- Volume 66, Issue 9, 2016

A novel bacterial strain, SR79T, was isolated from a Korean faecal sample and characterized using a polyphasic approach. SR79T was found to be a strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-negative short rod with no flagella. SR79T grew optimally at 37 °C in the presence of 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl at pH 7. The NaCl range for growth was 0–1 % (w/v). The isolate produced butyric acid (>18  mM) as a major end product. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the most closely related type strains were Eubacterium desmolans ATCC 43058T and Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum 25-3T (96.4 and 96.0 % similarity, respectively). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 52.9 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0, C18 : 1 cis-9, C19 : 1 cyc 9,10 and C14 : 0. Meso-diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell wall peptidoglycan and the cell wall hydrolysates contained ribose, glucose and galactose. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics allowed differentiation of SR79T, which represents a novel species of a new genus within the family Ruminococcaceae , for which the name Agathobaculum butyriciproducens gen. nov. sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SR79T (=KCTC 15532T=DSM 100391T). Based on the results of this study, it is also proposed to transfer Eubacterium desmolans to this new genus, as Agathobaculum desmolans comb. nov. The type strain of Agathobaculum desmolans is ATCC 43058T (=CCUG 27818T).

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming, irregular rod-shaped bacterium, designated DB13260T, was isolated from tropical rainforest soil in Jianfengling Nature Reserve in Hainan, China. The isolate was found to grow with 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl, at 5–40 °C and pH 6.0–10.5, with an optimum of 0 % NaCl, 30–37 °C and pH 8.5–9.0, respectively. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7), and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 53.7 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DB13260T showed an affiliation of the strain with the genus P aenibacillus , sharing 98.3 % and 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the closest relatives P aenibacillus anaericanus MH21T and Paenibacillus selenii W126T, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain DB13260T and the two type strains were 60.4 % and 42.6 %, respectively. The combined phenotypic and DNA–DNA hybridization data supported the conclusion that strain DB13260T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus segetis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DB13260T (=CGMCC 1.12769T=DSM 28014T).

Novel Gram-stain-variable, bent rods or long filaments that were endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic, oxidase- and catalase-negative, and designated strain NC2-42T, were isolated from sediment on the coast of Weihai, China. Optimal growth occurred at 37 °C, pH 7.5 and with 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. MK-7 was the sole respiratory quinone and meso-diaminopimelic acid was a diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan. The polar lipid profile of this novel isolate consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown phosphoaminolipid, two unknown glycolipids and an unknown lipid. The major cellular fatty acids in strain NC2-42T were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain NC2-42T was 58.11  mol% (HPLC). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain NC2-42T showed the highest similarity (92.32 %) to Paenibacillus profundus within the family Paenibacillaceae . Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Paenibacillaceae, with the name Marinicrinis sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is NC2-42T (=KCTC 33676T=MCCC 1K01238T).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, rod shaped, motile bacterium, designated strain PU1T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a drainage near hostel of Palamuru University, Mahabubnagar district, T.S, India (16°43′23″N 77°58′49″E). Cells of strain PU1T are positive for catalase, oxidase, phosphatase, lipase and urease, and negative for gelatinase, amylase, protease, cellulase, lysine decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase. The fatty acids were dominated by saturated fatty acids (82.7 %), with a high abundance of iso-C15 : 0 (48.8 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (7.3 %), iso-C16 : 0 (11.9 %), C16 : 1ω7c alcohol (11.8 %) and iso-C17 : 0 (5.3 %). Strain PU1T contained MK-8 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine make up the phospholipid composition. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contains meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid and cell-wall sugars are d-glucose and d-galactose. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated Chryseomicrobium imtechense and Chryseomicrobium amylolyticum , members of family Planococcaceae within the phylum Firmicutes , are the closest related species with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99 %. Other members of the family Planococcaceae had sequence similarities of 99 %, and DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain PU1T and Chryseomicrobium imtechense MW 10T, Chryseomicrobium amylolyticum JC16T were 38 and 32 % respectively. The G+C content of DNA of strain PU1T is 48.5 mol%. Based on the above-mentioned phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain PU1T represents a novel species of the genus Chryseomicrobium for which the name Chryseomicrobium palamuruense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PU1T(=CCUG 59101T=JCM 16712T=KCTC 13722T=NBRC106750T).

Three novel strains of the phylum Acidobacteria (Ac_11_E3T, Ac_12_G8T and Ac_16_C4T) were isolated from Namibian semiarid savanna soils by a high-throughput cultivation approach using low-nutrient growth media. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed all three strains in the order Blastocatellales of the class Blastocatellia ( Acidobacteria subdivision 4). However, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to their closest relative Pyrinomonas methylaliphatogenes K22T were ≤90 %. Cells of strains Ac_11_E3T, Ac_12_G8T and Ac_16_C4T were Gram-staining-negative and non-motile and divided by binary fission. Ac_11_E3T and Ac_16_C4T formed white colonies, while those of Ac_12_G8T were orange-yellowish. All three strains were aerobic chemoorganoheterotrophic mesophiles with a broad pH range for growth. All strains used a very limited spectrum of carbon and energy sources for growth, with a preference for complex proteinaceous substrates. The major respiratory quinone was MK-8. The major shared fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C contents of strains Ac_11_E3T, Ac_12_G8T and Ac_16_C4T were 55.9 mol%, 66.9 mol% and 54.7 mol%, respectively. Based on these characteristics, the two novel genera Brevitalea gen. nov. and Arenimicrobium gen. nov. are proposed, harboring the novel species Brevitalea aridisoli sp. nov. (Ac_11_E3T=DSM 27934T=LMG 28618T), Brevitalea deliciosa sp. nov. (Ac_16_C4T=DSM 29892T=LMG 28995T) and Arenimicrobium luteum sp. nov. (Ac_12_G8T=DSM 26556T=LMG 29166T), respectively. Since these novel genera are only distantly related to established families, we propose the novel family Pyrinomonadaceae fam. nov. that accommodates the proposed genera and the genus Pyrinomonas ( Crowe et al., 2014 ).

Mexican periwinkle virescence (MPV) phytoplasma was originally discovered in diseased plants of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) in Yucatán, Mexico. On the basis of results from RFLP analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain MPV was previously classified as the first known member of phytoplasma group 16SrXIII, and a new subgroup (16SrXIII-A) was established to accommodate MPV phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MPV represents a lineage distinct from previously described ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ’ species. Nucleotide sequence alignments revealed that strain MPV shared less than 97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with all previously described ‘Ca. Phytoplasma ’ species. Based on unique properties of the DNA, we propose recognition of Mexican periwinkle virescence phytoplasma strain MPV as representative of a novel taxon, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma hispanicum’.

The mycoplasma strain ST 57T was isolated from the trachea of a clinically healthy, free-ranging white stork nestling in Nielitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Strain ST 57T grew in fried-egg-shaped colonies on mycoplasma (SP4) agar plates and was dependent on sterol for growth. The organism fermented glucose and did not hydrolyse arginine or urea. The optimal growth temperature was 37 °C, with a temperature range from 23 to 44 °C. Strain ST 57Tcould not be identified as a representative of any of the currently described mycoplasma species by alignment of the 16S rRNA gene sequence or 16S–23S intergenic transcribed spacer region, or by immunobinding assays. Thus, this organism appears to be a representative of a novel species, for which the name Mycoplasma ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ST 57T (=ATCC BAA-2401T=DSM 25251T). Four further strains of this species are included in this description (ST 24=DSM 29908, ST 56 Clone 1=DSM 29054, ST 99=DSM 29909, ST 102=DSM 29010). The prevalence of this mycoplasma species in clinically healthy, white stork nestlings in northern Germany was determined. Our species-specific PCR detected 57.8 % (48/83) of the samples positive for M. ciconiae sp. nov. As this species appears to be widespread in the healthy free-ranging white stork population, we conclude that this species is either apathogenic or an opportunistic pathogen in white storks.

Phormidium Kützing ex Gomont, a common genus of the Cyanobacteria , is widely known as a problematic group. Its simple morphology is not congruent with its genetic heterogeneity and several new generic entities have been described based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses from populations with similar morphology. During a study of the diversity of Phormidioideae (Phormidiaceae, Oscillatoriales) in Brazil, ten Phormidium-like strains from south-eastern and mid-western regions were isolated in monospecific cultures and submitted to polyphasic evaluation (morphological, ecological and molecular studies). The populations studied presented homogeneous morphology (trichomes straight, not attenuated and apical cell rounded or obtuse), differing mainly in cell length from the type species of the genus Phormidium (Phormidium lucidum Agardh ex Gomont) and occurring as three morphotypes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the populations studied, with European Phormidium aerugineo-caeruleum (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek strains, were placed together in a very distinctive and highly supported clade. Thus, the set of characteristics of the strains resulted in the recognition of the new genus Potamolinea Martins et Branco with two species: Potamolinea magna as the type species (strains 47PC and 48PC) and Potamolinea aerugineo-caerulea (Gomont) Martins et Branco (strains 1PC, 2PC and 38PC). These two species plus one still undetermined lineage,Potamolinea sp., are morphologically and genetically distinguishable, whereas the secondary structures of the D1-D1′, box-B and V3 regions were conserved within each one. The generic name and specific epithets of the new taxa are proposed under the provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped or ovoid bacterial strain, designated YSM-23T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the South Sea in South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain YSM-23T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YSM-23T represented a member of the genus Colwellia . Strain YSM-23T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.0, 97.4 and 97.3 % to the type strains of Colwellia aestuarii , Colwellia polaris and Colwellia chukchiensis , respectively, and of 94.5–96.8 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Colwellia . Strain YSM-23T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids detected in strain YSM-23T were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content of strain YSM-23T was 43.8±0.08 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strain of C . aestuarii , C . polaris and C . chukchiensis were 10±3.5–22±4.9 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain YSM-23T is separated from species of the genus Colwellia with validly published names. On the basis of the data presented, strain YSM-23T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Colwellia , for which the name Colwellia sediminilitoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YSM-23T (=KCTC 52213T=NBRC 111994T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic and rod-shaped alphaproteobacterium, designated strain KHS03T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Japanese flying squid, Todarodes pacificus, which was collected from the East Sea, Korea. The new isolate shared 97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Sedimentitalea nanhaiensis NH52FT. The isolate grew optimally at 25 °C and pH 7 in the presence of 1–2 % (w/v) NaCl, and had an absolute requirement of sodium ions for growth. The major cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1 ω7c. The primary isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. Polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. Genotypic analyses indicated that the whole genomic DNA of the isolate had a G+C content of 59.9 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization showed that the isolate shared 17.1±2.3 % (reciprocal 17.0±1.9 %) genomic relatedness with the closest related type strain, S. nanhaiensis NH52FT. Strain KHS03T is thus suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Sedimentitalea , for which the name Sedimentitalea todarodis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KHS03T (=KCTC 42412T=JCM 31160T).

Strain Ndbn-20T, a Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium, was isolated from compost of plant litter. The strain was able to degrade dicamba. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that Ndbn-20Trepresented a member of the family Sphingomonadaceae of the Alphaproteobacteria and showed high sequence similarities to Rhizorhabdusargentea SP1T (98.8 %), Sphingomonaswittichii RW1T (97.9 %), Sphingomonasstarnbergensis 382T (97.7 %) and Sphingomonashistidinilytica UM2T (97.7 %). However, the strain showed low DNA sequence relatedness with R. argentea SP1T (45.6±1.9 %), S. wittichii RW1T (33.5±2.3 %), S. histidinilytica UM2T (39.4±3.6 %) and S. starnbergensis 382T (42.1±4.1 %). Ndbn-20T possessed Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, spermidine as the major polyamine, and summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C17 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C14 : 02-OH as the major fatty acids (>5 % of the total). The profile of polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, glycolipid, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 65.4 mol%. Based on a polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain Ndbn-20T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizorhabdus , with the proposed name of Rhizorhabdus dicambivorans sp. nov. The type strain is Ndbn-20T (=CCTCC AB 2016143=KACC 18661).

Four yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains PP-WC-4G-234T, PP-CE-2G-454T, PP-WC-1G-202 and PP-CC-3G-650, were isolated from the phyllosphere of Galium album. The strains shared 99.7–100 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity but could be differentiated by genomic fingerprinting using rep- and random amplification of polymorphic DNA PCRs. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene placed the strains within the family Aurantimonadaceae with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.2–97.3 % to the type strain of Aureimonas phyllosphaerae. Sequence similarities to all other Aurantimonadaceae were below 97 %. The main cellular fatty acids of the strains were C18 : 1 ω7c as the predominant fatty acid followed by C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω8c). The polyamine patterns of strains PP-WC-4G-234T and PP-CE-2G-454T contained sym-homospermidine as a major compound, and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. Predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified lipid only detectable after total lipid staining. The DNA G+C content was 66.4, 68.9, 67.4 and 70.5 mol% for strains PP-WC-4G-234T, PP-CE-2G-454T, PP-WC-1G-202 and PP-CC-3G-650, respectively. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses we propose two novel species of the genus Aureimonas, Aureimonas galii sp. nov. with PP-WC-4G-234T (=LMG 28655T=CIP 110892T) as the type strain and Aureimonas pseudogalii sp. nov. with PP-CE-2G-454T (=LMG 29411T=CCM 8665T) as the type strain and two further strains representing the same species, PP-WC-1G-202 and PP-CC-3G-650.

A reddish-brown-pigmented, phototrophic bacterium, designated strain JA877T, was isolated from a brown algae mat sample collected from Jalandhar beach, Gujarat, India. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain JA877T belongs to the class Alphaproteobacteria and is closely related to the type strains Rhodovulum viride JA756T (99.0 %), Rhodovulum sulfidophilum Hansen W4T (98.9 %), Rhodovulum visakhapatnamense JA181T (98.8 %), Rhodovulum kholense JA297T (97.5 %) and Rhodovulum salis JA746T (97.0). However, strain JA877T showed only 20–45 % relatedness with its phylogenetic neighbours and had a ∆T m between 5.8 and 7.0 °C. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q10), and the polar lipid profile was composed of the major components phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified sulfolipids and five unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω5c, C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 64.5 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological data, and chemotaxonomic and molecular differences, strain JA877T is significantly different from other species of the genus Rhodovulum and represents a novel species, for which the name Rhodovulum algae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA877T (=LMG 29228T= KCTC 42963T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and motile strain, designated PAMC 28425T, was isolated from a sea surface microlayer sample from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain PAMC 28425T showed an affiliation with the genus Pseudoalteromonas . Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain PAMC 28425T formed a clade with Pseudoalteromonas prydzensis MB8-11T and Pseudoalteromonas mariniglutinosa KMM 3635T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.3–98.6 %. Genomic relatedness analyses based on the average nucleotide identity and the genome-to-genome distance showed that strain PAMC 28425T is clearly distinguished from the phylogenetically close relatives. Cells of strain PAMC 28425T grew optimally at 25 °C and pH 7.5–8.5 in the presence of 1.0–3.0 % (w/v) sea salts. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, and C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c. The genomic DNA G+C content was 39.7 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data presented, we propose the name Pseudoalteromonas neustonica sp. nov. with the type strain PAMC 28425T (=KCCM 43187T=JCM 31286T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated WM3T, was isolated from surface seawater collected from the East China Sea. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive, short rods and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 15–43 °C (optimum 37–40 C), pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum pH 6.5–7.5) and with 0.25–9.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0–1.5 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8, the major fatty acids included C16 : 0 (23.6 %), C18 : 1ω7c (26.2 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, 22.1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WM3T was most closely related to the genus Marinobacterium , sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.5 % with both Marinobacterium litorale KCTC 12756T and Marinobacterium mangrovicola DSM 27697T. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain WM3T was 55.8 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics presented in this study, strain WM3T is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium , for which the name Marinobacterium zhoushanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WM3T (=KCTC 42782T=CGMCC 1.15341T).

During a screening study to determine the presence of species of the genus Campylobacter in reptiles, three putative strains (RC7, RC11 and RC20T) were isolated from different individuals of the western Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni). Initially, these isolates were characterized as representing C ampylobacter fetus subsp. fetus by multiplex PCR and partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Further whole- genome characterization revealed considerable differences compared to other Campylobacter species. A polyphasic study was then undertaken to determine the exact taxonomic position of the isolates. The three strains were characterized by conventional phenotypic tests and whole genome sequencing. We generated robust phylogenies that showed a distinct clade containing only these strains using the 16S rRNA and atpA genes and a set of 40 universal proteins. Our phylogenetic analysis demonstrates their designation as representing a novel species and this was further confirmed using whole- genome average nucleotide identity within the genus Campylobacter (~80 %). Compared to most Campylobacter species, these strains hydrolysed hippurate, and grew well at 25 °C but not at 42 °C. Phenotypic and genetic analyses demonstrate that the three Campylobacter strains isolated from the western Hermann’s tortoise represent a novel species within the genus Campylobacter , for which the name Campylobacter geochelonis sp. nov. is proposed, with RC20T (=DSM 102159T=LMG 29375T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain, designated SCU-M53T, was isolated from the insect Acrida cinerea. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SCU-M53T belonged to the genus Paracoccus , having Paracoccus chinensis NBRC 104937T (97.04 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Paracoccus niistensis KCTC 22789T (96.70 %) as the most closely related phylogenetic neighbours. Growth occurred at 10–40 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum pH 6.5–7.5) and with 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0–1 % NaCl). The fatty acids of strain SCU-M53T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C18 : 0, C16 : 0, C14 : 0 3-OH, C14 : 0 and C10 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unknown aminolipid, two unknown phospholipids and two unknown lipids. The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content was 60.6 mol%. Strain SCU-M53T exhibited 36.5 and 28.6 % DNA–DNA relatedness to P. chinensis NBRC 104937T and P. niistensis KCTC 22789T, respectively. According to these results, strain SCU-M53T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus , for which the name Paracoccus acridae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCU-M53T (=KCTC 42932T=CGMCC 1.15419T).

An aerobic, coccoid to short rod, yellow-pigmented, non-sporulating and Gram-staining-negative bacterium, designated NH6-79T, was isolated from surface seawater of the South China Sea. The isolate was motile with a polar flagellum. Growth was observed at 4–42 °C (optimum 37 °C), at pH 6.0–8.5 (optimum pH 7.0), and with 0.5–11 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4.5 %) and 1.5–17 % (w/v) sea salt (optimum 3.5–5 %). Strain NH6-79T could decompose peptone to produce H2S, but could not hydrolyse skimmed milk. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NH6-79T had the closest affinity to the genus Parvularcula , sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with ‘ Parvularcula oceanus ’ JLT2013 (94.1 %), Parvularcula lutaonensis CC-MMS-1T (93.4 %), Parvularcula dongshanensis SH25T (92.9 %) and Parvularcula bermudensis HTCC2503T (92.7 %), and lower sequence similarities (<90 %) with all other genera. The dominant fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile was mainly composed of three unidentified glycolipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content was 60.7 mol%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic characterization, strain NH6-79T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Parvularcula , for which the name Parvularcula flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NH6-79T (=CGMCC 1.14984T=JCM 30557T=MCCC 1K00277T).

A chemolithotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, strain aks1T, was isolated from sediment of a brackish lake in Japan. The cells were curved rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 53 mol%. The major components in the cellular fatty acid profile were C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). As electron donor for chemolithoautotrophic growth, strain aks1T oxidized thiosulfate, sulfide, and elemental sulfur. The strain could utilize oxygen and nitrate as an electron acceptor for thiosulfate oxidation. Growth was observed at a temperature range of 5–34 °C, with optimum growth at 30–32 °C. Growth of the strain was observed at a pH range of 6.4–8.7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain is related to members of the family Granulosicoccaceae within the order Chromatiales , with sequence similarities around 92 %. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain aks1T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Sulfuriflexus mobilis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is aks1T (=DSM 102939T=NBRC 111889T).