- Volume 66, Issue 5, 2016

An actinomycete strain, RY45-3T, isolated from a peat swamp forest soil in Rayong Province, Thailand, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strain belonged to the genus Nocardia on the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties. Cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The N-acyl group of muramic acid in the cell wall was glycolyl type. The diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates were galactose and arabinose. MK-8 (H4ω-cycl) was the major menaquinone. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω9c. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis, strain RY45-3T was closely related to Nocardia jiangxiensis JCM 12861T (98.9 %), Nocardia nova JCM 6044T (98.8 %) and Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis JCM 9894T (98.6 %). The strain showed low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness with N. jiangxiensis JCM 12861T, N. nova JCM 6044T and N. pseudobrasiliensis JCM 9894T (range from 3.6 to 55.3 %). On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics and the results mentioned, this strain could be differentiated from closely related type strains and represents a novel species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia rayongensis sp. nov. (type strain RY45-3T = JCM 19832T = TISTR 2213T = PCU 334T) is proposed.

A novel bacterium, strain 7515T-26T, was isolated from an air sample collected in Taean region, Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-flagellated cocci, growing in the temperature, pH and NaCl ranges of 10–33 °C, pH 5.0–9.0 and 0–2 % (w/v). It shared high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Friedmanniella lacustris EL-17AT (97.6 %), Friedmanniella lucida FA2T (96.9 %) and Friedmanniella luteola FA1T (96.9 %), showing high sequence similarities of 96.5–97.6 % with members of the genus Friedmanniella. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 7515T-26T and members of the genus Friedmanniella formed a compact cluster separable from other genera. The isolate contained anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, and MK-9(H4) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unknown phospholipids and one unknown lipid, and the DNA G+C content was 73.1 mol%. The peptidoglycan type was A3γ. It showed DNA–DNA hybridization values of less than 70 % with F. lacustris EL-17AT. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, a novel species, Friedmanniella aerolata sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is 7515T-26T ( = KACC 17306T = DSM 27139T).

A novel thermophilic actinomycete, designated strain T3T, was isolated from a soil sample of a sugar cane field. The strain grew at 25–60 °C (optimum 37–50 °C), at pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum 7.0–9.0) and with 0–12.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0–7 %). The aerial mycelium was white and the vegetative mycelium was colourless to pale yellow. The substrate mycelium fragmented into rod-shaped elements after 4–5 days at 50 °C. The aerial mycelium formed flexuous chains of 5–20 spores per chain; the oval-shaped spores had spiny surfaces and were non-motile. The organism contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell sugars consisted of arabinose, galactose and ribose. The cellular fatty acid profile consisted mainly of anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The quinone system was composed predominantly of MK-9(H4). The phospholipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and ninhydrin-positive glycophospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain T3T was 71.3 mol%. The organism showed a combination of morphological and chemotaxonomic properties typical of members of the genus Saccharopolyspora. In the 16S rRNA gene tree of Saccharopolyspora it formed a distinct phyletic line and was related most closely to Saccharopolyspora thermophila 216T. However, the phenotypic characteristics of strain T3T were significantly different from those of S. thermophila 216T and DNA–DNA hybridization revealed a low level of relatedness (28.6–32.3 %) between them. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain T3T represents a novel species in the genus Saccharopolyspora, for which the name Saccharopolyspora subtropica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T3T ( = DSM 46801T = CGMCC 4.7206T).

Two novel actinobacteria, designated strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T, isolated from soil of a ginseng field, South Korea, were characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify their taxonomic positions. They were Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that both isolates belong to the genus Marmoricola and were related most closely to Marmicola solisilvae KIS18-7T (99.1 and 98.3 % similarity, respectively), Marmicola terrae JOS5-1T (97.9 and 97.9 %), Marmicola scoriae Sco-D01T (97.8 and 97.1 %) and Marmicola aequoreus SST-45T (97.5 and 97.0 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.8 and 70.0 mol%, respectively. Both strains were characterized chemotaxonomically as having ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and C17 : 1ω6c, C18 : 1ω9c, C18 : 0 10-methyl and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of both strains to the genus Marmoricola. However, levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between the two strains and closely related type strains of Marmoricola species were less than 30 %. Moreover, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the phenotypic differentiation of strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T from other Marmoricola species with validly published names. Therefore, the two isolates represent two novel species, for which the names Marmoricola ginsengisoli sp. nov. (type strain Gsoil 097T = KACC 14267T = DSM 22772T) and Marmoricola pocheonensis sp. nov. (type strain Gsoil 818T = KACC 14275T = DSM 22773T) are proposed.

A novel Gram-reaction-positive, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated CFH S0483T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Catba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain is a member of the genus Agromyces and has highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Agromyces humatus DSM 16389T (97.3 %) and Agromyces ramosus DSM 43045T (97.1 %), and similarities  < 97.0 % with type strains of other species of the genus Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T was able to grow at 10–37 °C, at pH 7.0–9.0 and tolerated NaCl up to 2.0 % (w/v). The whole-cell sugars were mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose. The isolate contained l-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, d-alanine, d-glutamic acid and glycine in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Strain CFH S0483T exhibited a menaquinone system with MK-12, and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CFH S0483T was 71.6 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis, and low DNA–DNA hybridization values, strain CFH S0483T could not be classified into any recognized species of the genus Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for which the name Agromyces insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH S0483T ( = KCTC 39117T = CCTCC AB 2014301T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and yellow actinobacterial strain, designated SYP-A7303T, was isolated from the root of Ginkgo biloba L. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SYP-A7303T belongs to the genus Nocardioides. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SYP-A7303T showed highest similarity to Nocardioides marinus CL-DD14T ( = JCM 15615T) (98.3 %) and Nocardioides aquiterrae GW-9T ( = JCM 11813T) (97.1 %), and less than 96.9 % to the type strains of other species of the genus Nocardioides. Strain SYP-A7303T grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 7.0 and in the absence of NaCl. It contained ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, with mannose, ribose, rhamnose, glucose and galactose as whole-cell sugars. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unknown lipid. The menaquinone was MK-8(H4) and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C17 : 1ω8c. The DNA G+C content was 72 mol%. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain SYP-A7303T and the closely related strains N. marinus JCM 15615T and N. aquiterrae JCM 11813T were 62.5 ± 2.4 and 56.5 ± 3.5 %, respectively. Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics presented in this study, strain SYP-A7303T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides ginkgobilobae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYP-A7303T ( = DSM 100492T = KCTC 39594T).

A novel actinomycete, strain KC-112T, was isolated from soil collected from Similan Islands, Phang-Nga Province, Thailand. The strain exhibited morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces. The formation of smooth spiral spore chains was observed on aerial mycelia. ll-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in whole-cell hydrolysates, but no diagnostic sugars were detected and the strain lacked mycolic acids. The N-acyl type of muramic acid was acetyl. The major menaquinones were MK-9(H8), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H2). The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown aminolipid, unknown lipids and an unknown glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 73 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain KC-112T was closely related to Streptomyces fumanus NBRC 13042T (98.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Streptomyces anandii NBRC 13438T (98.8 %) and Streptomyces capillispiralis NBRC 14222T (98.8 %). DNA–DNA relatedness values among strain KC-112T and type strains of closely related species were lower than 70 %. On the basis of evidence from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, strain KC-112T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, namely Streptomyces andamanensis sp. nov. The type strain is KC-112T ( = KCTC 29502T = NBRC 110085T = PCU 347T = TISTR 2401T).

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative bacterium, designated YIM CS25T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Turpan desert in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, north-western China. The isolate grew at 15–40 °C, at pH 6.0–8.0 and with 0–6 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YIM CS25T belonged to the genus Arthrobacter and was closely related to Arthrobacter halodurans JSM 078085T (95.89 % similarity). The peptidoglycan type contained lysine, alanine and glutamic acid. The major whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose and ribose. The isolate contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids and MK-9 (H2) as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 1ω9c. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.3 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain YIM CS25T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM CS25T ( = KCTC 39544T = CGMCC 1.15091T).

An alkaliphilic, filamentous actinomycete, designated EGI 80629T, was isolated from a soil sample of Xinjiang, north-west China. Strain EGI 80629T grew at pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum pH 9.0–10.0) and in the presence of 0–13.0 % NaCl (optimum 3.0–5.0 %). The isolate formed fragmented substrate mycelia, and aerial hyphae with short spore chains with rod-like spores. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the isolate contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, and mannose and rhamnose as diagnostic sugars. The major fatty acids identified were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4), while the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides, five unknown phospholipids, three unknown phosphoglycolipids, one unknown glycolipid, four unknown polar lipids and one unknown aminophospholipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 67.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EGI 80629T clustered with the genus Phytoactinopolyspora. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain EGI 80629T and Phytoactinopolyspora endophytica EGI 60009T was 96.8 %. Based on morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain EGI 80629T represents a novel species of the genus Phytoactinopolyspora, for which the name Phytoactinopolyspora alkaliphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 80629T ( = CGMCC 4.7225T = KCTC 39701T).

A novel bacterial strain, Back-11T, was isolated from sediment soil of a crater lake, Baekrokdam, Hallasan, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain Back-11T were Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and oxidase- and catalase-positive. It contained anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acid, menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and four unidentified aminophospholipids as the main polar lipids, and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 45.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain Back-11T was most closely related to Paenibacillus taihuensis THMBG22T (95.5 % similarity) and fell into a clade in the genus Paenibacillus. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain Back-11T represents a novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus baekrokdamisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Back-11T ( = KCTC 33723T = CECT 8890T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a faecal sample obtained from an individual in a traditional community located off the southern coast of Peru. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the novel bacterium belonged to the genus Peptoniphilus but showed no particular relationship with any species, demonstrating less than 91 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with all members of the genus. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C10 : 0, C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 2ω6,9c/anteiso-C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 34.4 mol%. End-products of metabolism from peptone-yeast-glucose broth (PYG) were determined to be acetate and butyrate. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, the organism represents a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus, for which the name Peptoniphilus catoniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M6.X2DT ( = DSM 29874T = CCUG 66798T).

A Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and bright-yellow-pigmented bacterium, motile by means of a single polar flagellum, designated THG-MD21T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Radix ophiopogonis in Henan province, PR China. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-MD21T belongs to the genus Luteimonas and was most closely related to Luteimonas aestuarii B9T (98.2 % sequence similarity), Lysobacter panaciterrae Gsoil 068T (97.2 %) and Luteimonas marina FR1330T (97.0 %). The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG-MD21T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours was below 30.0 %. The only isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-MD21T was ubiquinone-8.The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol, and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C11 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The DNA–DNA hybridization result and characteristics revealed by a polyphasic study showed that strain THG-MD21T represents a novel species, for which the name Luteimonas terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-MD21T ( = KACC 18131T = JCM 30122T).

Three bacterial strains, designated DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6-9, were isolated from a sediment sample taken from Daechung Reservoir (Republic of Korea) at a water depth of 48 m. Cells of the strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile with a single polar flagellum. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed that the three isolates had clear affiliation with Betaproteobacteria and the closest relatives were Rhizobacter bergeniae KCTC 32299T, Rhizobacter dauci DSM 11587T and Rhizobacter fulvus KCTC 12591T with 97.2–97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities; the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between the three strains were 99.5–100 %. The only isoprenoid quinone of the three strains was ubiquinone-8, and the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strains DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6-9 was 66.7, 67.0 and 66.8 mol%, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization values of the novel strains with R. bergeniae KCTC 32299T, R. dauci DSM 11587T and R. fulvus KCTC 12591T were 19.3–48.5 %. Based on the evidence from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it is proposed that strains, DS48-6-5T, DS48-6-7 and DS48-6-9, represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobacter, for which the name Rhizobacter profundi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DS48-6-5T ( = KCTC 42645T = NBRC 111169T).

A moderately halophilic, aerobic bacterium, strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T, belonging to the genus Halomonas, was isolated from a saline-alkaline lake in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and a multilocus sequence analysis using the 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD genes demonstrated that strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T represents a member of the genus Halomonas. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the closest relatives were Halomonas campaniensis 5AGT, H. fontilapidosi 5CRT, H. korlensis XK1T and H. sinaiensis ALO SharmT, with similarities of 96.2–97.2 %. DNA–DNA hybridization with H. korlensis CGMCC 1.6981T (the nearest phylogenetic neighbour) and H. campaniensis DSM 15293T (the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) showed relatedness values of 53 and 38 %, respectively, demonstrating the separateness of the three taxa. The bacterium stained Gram-negative and the cells were motile and rod-shaped. The strain formed creamy-white colonies and grew under optimal conditions of 1.42 M Na+ (range 0.22–4.32 M Na+), pH 8.0–8.5 (range pH 6.0–10.0) and 39 °C (range 4–43 °C). The dominant fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c; 36.6 %), C16 : 0 (25.9 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c; 21.2 %). The dominant polar lipids were two unknown phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, and the main respiratory quinones were ubiquinone 9 (Q-9; 89 %) and ubiquinone 8 (Q-8; 10 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 61.7 ± 0.8 mol% (T m). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic features, strain BZ-SZ-XJ27T is proposed to represent a novel species, Halomonas urumqiensis sp. nov., within the genus Halomonas of the family Halomonadaceae. The type strain is BZ-SZ-XJ27T ( = JCM 30202T = CGMCC 1.12917T).

A novel sulfur oxidizer, strain wk12T, was isolated from an industrially synthesized lead (II) sulfide. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was around 58.5 mol%. The major components in the cellular fatty acid profile were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The strain oxidized lead sulfide, thiosulfate and tetrathionate as electron donors to support autotrophic growth. Cells of strain wk12T were motile, rod-shaped (0.5–1.0 × 0.7–2.2 μm), and Gram-stain-negative. For growth, the temperature range was 5–37 °C, and optimum growth was observed at 28–32 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.8–8.7, with optimum growth at pH 6.4–7.1. Optimum growth of the isolate was observed in medium without NaCl, and no growth was observed in the medium containing 0.5 M or more NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the class Acidithiobacillia. The closest relative with a validly published name was Thermithiobacillus tepidarius DSM 3134T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96 %. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain wk12T represents a novel species of the genus Thermithiobacillus, for which the name Thermithiobacillus plumbiphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is wk12T ( = NBRC 111508T = DSM 101799T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated UST20140214-052T, was isolated from a marine flatworm (polyclad). The bacterium was found to be catalase-positive and weakly oxidase-positive, and motile by means of several peritrichous or subpolar flagella. Strain UST20140214-052T grew optimally at 28 °C, at pH 7.0 and in the presence of 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain UST20140214-052T belongs to the genus Pseudovibrio, with highest sequence similarity to Pseudovibrio hongkongensis UST20140214-015BT (98.8 %), followed by Pseudovibrio japonicus WSF2T (96.2 %), Pseudovibrio ascidiaceicola F423T (96.2 %), Pseudovibrio denitrificans DN34T (95.9 %), Pseudovibrio axinellae Ad2T (95.9 %). All the other species shared < 95.5 % sequence similarity. The DNA–DNA hybridization estimate value between strain UST20140214-052T and P. hongkongensis UST20140214-015BT was 24.7 ± 2.4 %. The major fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, as defined by the MIDI system; 62.6 %). The DNA G+C content was 47.0 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain UST20140214-052T represents a novel species within the genus Pseudovibrio, for which the name Pseudovibrio stylochi sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain UST20140214-052T ( = KCTC 42384T = MCCC 1K00452T).

A novel sulfur-oxidizing bacterium designated strain mst6T was isolated from spring water of Masutomi hot spring in Japan. The cells were rod-shaped (1.2–4.0 × 0.5–0.7 μm) and Gram-stain-negative. The G+C content of genomic DNA was around 52.6 mol%. The isolate possessed summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids. Strain mst6T grew by inorganic carbon fixation and oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds with oxygen as an electron acceptor. The isolate grew over a temperature range of 5–34 °C, a NaCl concentration range of 0–110 mM and a pH range of 4.6–8.1. Optimum growth occurred at 32 °C, in the absence of NaCl and at pH 5.9–6.2. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain mst6T belongs to the family Sulfuricellaceae in the class Betaproteobacteria. The closest cultured relative was Sulfuriferula multivorans TTNT with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.0 %. On the basis of the data obtained in this study, strain mst6T represents a novel species of the genus Sulfuriferula, for which the name Sulfuriferula thiophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is mst6T ( = NBRC 111150T = DSM 101871T). In addition, we propose correcting the name Sulfuriferula plumbophilus Watanabe, Kojima and Fukui 2015 to Sulfuriferula plumbiphila corrig. based on Rule 12c, Rule 61 and Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes.