- Volume 67, Issue 10, 2017

A novel Gram-stain-positive bacterium, designated djl-8T, was isolated from farmland soil in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, PR China. Cells of strain djl-8T were aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. The organism grew at 25–37 °C, pH 5.5–8.0 and 0.5–4.0 % NaCl (w/v). The DNA G+C content was 69.3 mol%. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was LL-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, 10-Me C17 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c. The respiratory quinone was MK-8 (H4) and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unknown phospholipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain djl-8T is a member of the genus Nocardioides and shared the highest similarity with Nocardioides ginkgobilobae SYP-A7303T (97.1 %), followed by Nocardioides soli mbc-2T (96.9 %), Nocardioide spyridinolyticus OS4T (96.6 %) and Nocardioides maradonensis RP-B30T (96.6 %). Strain djl-8T exhibited low DNA–DNA relatedness with Nocardioides ginkgobilobae SYP-A7303T (26.9±2.1 %). On the basis of the morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics presented in this study, strain djl-8T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides agrisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is djl-8T (=KCTC 39844T=CCTCC AB 2017058T).

A novel Gram-strain-positive, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated SKC1-2T, was isolated from volcanic rock of the scoria cone of Seobjikoji, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, motile and cocci. Colonies of cells were dark orange-coloured, circular, smooth and convex. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate was related to members of the genus Pseudokineococcus . Phylogenetic neighbours were P. marinus KCCM 42250T (98.2 %, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and P. lusitanus DSM 23768T (98.0 %). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-9(H2). The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-9(H2) and the major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile included major amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified phosphoglycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 74.9 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain SKC1-2T and P. lusitanus DSM 23768T or P. marinus KCCM 42250T were 37.5–38.1 % or 45.4–46.4 %, respectively. On the basis of the phenotypic differences and DNA–DNA relatedness data, the isolate represents a new species of the genus Pseudokineococcus , for which the name Pseudokineococcus basanitobsidens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SKC1-2T (=DSM 103726T=KCCM 43221T).

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-GS50T, was isolated from soil collected from Mount Song and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the organism should be assigned to the genus Promicromonospora and that it forms a monophyletic clade with its closest relatives Promicromonospora umidemergens JCM 17975T (98.94 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Promicromonospora alba 1C-HV12T (98.82 %) and Promicromonospora kermanensis DSM45485T (98.68 %). Similarly, chemotaxonomic data including major menaquinones, fatty acid compositions and polar lipid profiles, also supported the placement of strain NEAU-GS50T in the genus Promicromonospora . However, DNA–DNA relatedness, physiological and biochemical data showed that strain NEAU-GS50T could be distinguished from its closest relatives. Therefore, strain NEAU-GS50T represents a novel species of the genus Promicromonospora , for which the name Promicromonospora soli sp. nov. is proposed, with strain NEAU-GS50T (CGMCC4.7398T=DSM 104515T) as the type strain.

A novel actinomycete, strain SR3-134T, belonging to the genus Streptomyces , was isolated from soil collected from the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. The taxonomic position of the strain was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. ll-Diaminopimelic acid, glucose, mannose and ribose were detected in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The N-acyl type of muramic acid was acetyl. The menaquinones were MK-9(H8), MK-9(H6), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. blast analysis of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene showed 98.7 % sequence similarities to Streptomyces lanatus JCM 4588T and Streptomyces psammoticus JCM 4434T. The DNA G+C content was 71.4 mol%. Strain SR3-134T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness (12.9±4.0–44.1±1.0 %) to S. lanatus JCM 4588T and S. psammoticus JCM 4434T. The new strain could also be distinguished from its closely related strains by differences in their phenotypic characteristics. The results of taxonomic analysis suggested that strain SR3-134T represented a novel species of the genus Streptomyces for which the name Streptomyces cerasinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SR3-134T (=TISTR 2494T=KCTC 39910T).

Three rapidly growing mycobacterial strains, QIA-37T, QIA-40 and QIA-41, were isolated from the lymph nodes of three separate Korean native cattle, Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae). These strains were previously shown to be phylogenetically distinct but closely related to Mycobacterium chelonae ATCC 35752T by taxonomic approaches targeting three genes (16S rRNA, hsp6 and rpoB) and were further characterized using a polyphasic approach in this study. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of all three strains showed 99.7 % sequence similarity with that of the M. chelonae type strain. A multilocus sequence typing analysis targeting 10 housekeeping genes, including hsp65 and rpoB, revealed a phylogenetic cluster of these strains with M. chelonae . DNA–DNA hybridization values of 78.2 % between QIA-37T and M. chelonae indicated that it belongs to M. chelonae but is a novel subspecies distinct from M. chelonae . Phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences revealed a 95.44±0.06 % average nucleotide identity (ANI) value with M. chelonae , slightly higher than the 95.0 % ANI criterion for determining a novel species. In addition, distinct phenotypic characteristics such as positive growth at 37 °C, at which temperature M. chelonae does not grow, further support the taxonomic status of these strains as representatives of a novel subspecies of M. chelonae . Therefore, we propose an emended description of Mycobacterium chelonae , and descriptions of M. chelonae subsp. chelonae subsp. nov. and M. chelonae subsp. bovis subsp. nov. are presented; strains ATCC 35752T(=CCUG 47445T=CIP 104535T=DSM 43804T=JCM 6388T=NCTC 946T) and QIA-37T (=KCTC 39630T=JCM 30986T) are the type strains of the two novel subspecies.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-spore-forming, atrichous and short rod-shaped endophytic actinomycete, designated strain BGMRC 2075T, was isolated from the leaves of Kandelia candel, and was subjected to polyphasic characterization to unravel its taxonomic position. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain BGMRC 2075T belongs to the genus Nocardioides ,showing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Nocardioides aestuarii JC2056T (96.1 %), Nocardioides agariphilus MSL-28T (95.1 %) and Nocardioides islandiensis MSL-26T (95.1 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain BGMRC 2075T were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 0. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant cell-wall sugars were composed of ribose and glucose. The polar lipid pattern contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, five unknown phospholipids, one phospholipid of unknown structure containing glucosamine, and an unknown polar lipid. The DNA G+C content was 70.8 mol%. All these data support the allocation of the novel strain to the genus Nocardioides . The results of physiological and biochemical characterization allow the phenotypic differentiation of strain BGMRC 2075T from N. aestuarii JC2056T, N. agariphilus MSL-28T and N. islandiensis MSL-26T. Strain BGMRC 2075T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which we propose the name Nocardioides kandeliae sp. nov. The type strain is BGMRC 2075T (=KCTC 39886T=DSM 104480T).

A novel strain designated Aerobe-19T was isolated from a soil sample collected from a lawn located in Seoul National University in Korea. The cells were Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, and coccus-shaped. Colonies were circular with entire edges, convex, opaque and pale yellow. The strain grew at 15–30 ˚C (optimum, 30 ˚C), pH 5.0–7.0 (optimum, 6.0) and in the presence of 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetically, the strain was found to be closely related to members of the genus Oryzihumus and showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 96.4 and 96.3 % with Oryzihumus leptocrescens NRRL B-24347T and Oryzihumus terrae KACC 16543T, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 (H4). The polar lipids profile revealed the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids, unknown amino-glycophospholipid, unknown phospholipid and unknown lipids. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ. The DNA G+C content of this stain was 73.9 mol%. On the basis of data presented, strain Aerobe-19T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Oryzihumus , for which the name Oryzihumus soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Aerobe-19T (=KACC 18485T =KCTC 39705T=NBRC 111450T).

A novel Bifidobacterium strain, Tam10BT, i.e. LMG 30126T, was isolated from emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator). Cells were Gram-positive, non-motile, non-sporulating, non-haemolytic, facultative anaerobic and fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes as well as multilocus sequences (representing hsp60, rpoB, dnaJ, dnaG and clpC genes) and the core genome revealed that Bifidobacterium Tam10BT exhibited close phylogenetic relatedness to Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201T. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed the phylogenetic results showing the highest gene sequence identity with strain B. tissieri DSM 100201T (96.5 %). Furthermore, genotyping based on the genome sequence of Tam 10B, in combination with phenotypic analyses, clearly showed that strain Tam10BT is distinct from each of the type strains of the so far recognized Bifidobacterium species. The type strain Tam10BT (=LMG 30126T=CCUG 70655T) represents a novel species, for which the name Bifidobacterium vansinderenii sp. nov is proposed.

A strain representing a rapidly growing, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-sporulating and non-pigmented species of the genus Mycobacterium , designated strain S-I-6T, was isolated from groundwater at Daejeon in Korea. The strain grew at temperatures between 10 and 37 °C (optimal growth at 25 °C), between pH 4.0 and 9.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.0) and at salinities of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl, growing optimally with 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus sequence analysis of the 16S rRNAgene, hsp65, rpoB and the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer indicated that strain S-I-6T belonged to the rapidly growing mycobacteria, being most closely related to Mycobacterium sphagni . On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the bacterial strain was distinguished from its phylogenetic neighbours by chemotaxonomic properties and other biochemical characteristics. DNA–DNA relatedness among strain S-I-6T and the closest phylogenetic neighbour strongly support the proposal that this strain represents a novel species within the genus Mycobacterium , for which the name Mycobacterium aquiterrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S-I-6T (=KACC 17600T=NBRC 109805T=NCAIM B 02535T).

A Gram-reaction-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated TEYR-7T, was isolated from the leaves of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum collected from the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, northwest China. Growth of strain TEYR-7T occurred at 15–37 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–1 %). Propionate and acetate were produced from glucose fermentation. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TEYR-7T was a member of the phylum Actinobacteria, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Propioniciclava tarda DSM 22130T (94.3 %). The only respiratory quinone detected in strain TEYR-7T was menaquinone MK-9(H4) and the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. On the basis of data from the present polyphasic taxonomic study, strain TEYR-7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Propioniciclava , for which the name Propioniciclava sinopodophylli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TEYR-7T (=CCTCC AB 2015257T=KCTC 33808T).

An alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic bacterial strain characterized by optimal growth at pH 9.0–10.0 and with 5–7 % (w/v) NaCl, designated BV-35T, was isolated from water of a soda pan located in Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. Cells of the orange-pigmented colony were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and non-endospore-forming coccoid rods. The isolate was strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Strain BV-35T displayed a peptidoglycan similar to type A4α, l-Lys–l-Glu (A11.54 according to www.peptidoglycan-types.info) but containing additionally 4-aminobutyric acid. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) was the predominant isoprenoid quinone, and anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 were its major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain BV-35T was 65.4 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the novel isolate showed the closest relationship to Nesterenkonia populi GP 10-3T (97.9 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness between BV-35T and N. populi was 46.7 %. The distinguishing phenotypic and genetic results of this polyphasic study revealed that strain BV-35T represents a novel member of the genus Nesterenkonia , for which the name Nesterenkonia pannonica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BV-35T (=DSM 29786T=NCAIM B 02606T).

Strain ATCC 33076, which produces the antibiotic ramoplanin, was isolated from a soil sample collected in India, and it was classified as a member of the genus Actinoplanes on the basis of morphology and cell-wall composition. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain forms a distinct clade within the genus Actinoplanes , and it is most closely related to Actinoplanes deccanensis IFO 13994T (98.71 % similarity) and Actinoplanes atraurantiacus Y16T (98.33 %). The strain forms an extensively branched substrate mycelium; the sporangia are formed very scantily and are globose with irregular surface. Spores are oval and motile. The cell wall contains meso-diaminopimelic acid and the diagnostic sugars are xylose and arabinose. The predominant menaquinone is MK-9(H6), with minor amounts of MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). Mycolic acids are absent. The diagnostic phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids are anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, followed by iso-C15 : 0 and moderate amounts of anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c. The genomic DNA G+C content is 71.4 mol%. Significant differences in the morphological, chemotaxonomic and biochemical data, together with DNA–DNA relatedness between strain ATCC 33076 and closely related type strains, clearly demonstrated that strain ATCC 33076 represents a novel species of the genus Actinoplanes , for which the name Actinoplanes ramoplaninifer sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ATCC 33076T (=DSM 105064T=NRRL B-65484T).

A novel actinomycete, strain SR2-123T, belonging to the genus Streptomyces , was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. The taxonomic position of the strain was characterized using a polyphasic study. Strain SR2-123T contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, glucose, mannose and ribose in whole-cell hydrolysates. The N-acyl type of muramic acid was acetyl. Menaquinones were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unknown phospholipid, unknown glycolipids, an unknown aminophospholipid, unknown lipids and an unknown aminolipid. The DNA G+C content was 74.8 mol%. The strain was closely related to Streptomyces coeruleorubidus JCM 4359T (98.5 %), Streptomyces flavofungini JCM 4753T (98.5 %), Streptomyces coerulescens NBRC 12758T (98. 5 %) and Streptomyces alboflavus JCM 4615T (98.4 %), based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The novel strain exhibited low DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains (11.4–25.0 %) of closely related species. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain SR2-123T could be distinguished from closely related species of the genus Streptomyces and represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces for which the name Streptomyces xylanilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SR2-123T (=TISTR 2493T=KCTC 39909T).

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain, designated CPCC 204077T, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root of a medicinal plant Huperzia serrata (Thunb.) collected from Sichuan Province, south-west China. The peptidoglycan type of strain CPCC 204077T was detected as A4α with an l-Lys–l-Ser–d-Asp interpeptide bridge. Galactose, glucose, rhamnose and ribose were the sugar compositions in the whole-cell hydrolysates. MK-8(H4) was the only menaquinone. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acid was iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.0 mol%. The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CPCC 204077T stood for a distinct lineage within the family Dermacoccaceae alongside the genera Branchiibius , Demetria and Barrientosiimonas , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Branchiibius hedensis Mer 29717T (95.0 %), Calidifontibacter indicus PC IW02T (95.0 %), Barrientosiimonas humi 39T (94.9 %) and Demetria terragena HKI 0089T (94.7 %), and less than 94.7 % sequence similarities to all other species. Signature nucleotides in the 16S rRNA sequence showed that the strain contained the Dermacoccaceae family-specific 16S rRNA signature nucleotides and a genus-specific diagnostic nucleotide signature pattern. Combining the genotypic and phenotypic analyses, we propose that strain CPCC 204077T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Dermacoccaceae with the name Allobranchiibius huperziae gen. nov., sp. nov. Strain CPCC 204077T (=NBRC 110719T=DSM 29531T) is the type strain of the type species.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated as x-2T, was isolated from lakeside soil of Sayram in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, PR China. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain x-2T belongs to the genus Nocardioides in the family Nocardioidaceae , being most closely related to Nocardioides panacisoli Gsoil 346T (97.36 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Strain x-2T was characterized chemotaxonomically and found to have ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids and another three unknown phospholipids as the major polar lipids, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and C18 : 1ω9c, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The genomic DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 71.1 mol%. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain x-2T and N. panacisoli KCTC 19470T (=Gsoil 346T) was 29.8 %. These chemotaxonomic characters support the position of strain x-2T within the genus Nocardioides . The results of physiological and biochemical tests, as well as phylogenetic analysis, suggest that strain x-2T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides litorisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is x-2T (=KCTC 39845T=CCTCCAB 2016255T).

A Gram-positive, halophilic actinobacterial strain Miq-12T was isolated from Meighan wetland in Iran. Strain Miq-12T was strictly aerobic, catalase positive and oxidase negative. The isolate grew at 12–25 % NaCl, at 30–50 °C and pH 5.5–10.5. The optimum NaCl, temperature and pH for growth were 15–20 %, 40 °C and 7.0–8.0, respectively. The cell wall of strain Miq-12T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diamino acid and arabinose as whole-cell sugar. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. It synthesized cellular fatty acids of anteiso and iso-branched types, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C16 : 0. The major respiratory quinone was MK-9(H4). The G+C content of its genomic DNA was 72.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain Miq-12T belongs to the family Pseudonocardiaceae , constituted a separate clade, and showed the closest phylogenetic similarity to Saccharopolyspora aidingensis TRM 46074T (96.99 %) and Saccharopolyspora ghardaiensis CCUG 63370T (96.92 %). On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, a novel genus and species of the family Pseudonocardiaceae , Salinifilum proteinilyticum gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed. The type strain is Miq-12T (=IBRCM 11033T=LMG 28390T). We also propose that S. aidingensis and S. ghardaiensis should be transferred to this new genus and be named Salinifilum aidingensis comb. nov. and Salinifilum ghardaiensis comb. nov., respectively. The type strain of Salinifilum aidingensis comb. nov. is TRM 46074T (=CCTCCAA 2012014T=JCM 30185T) and the type strain of Salinifilum ghardaiensis comb. nov. is CCUG 63370T (=DSM 45606T=CECT 8304T).

Two Gram-stain-positive, aerobic actinomycete strains, designated NEAU-PCY-3T and NEAU-PCY-4, were isolated from rhizosphere soil of Urtica urens L. collected from Anshan, Liaoning Province, northeast PR China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the two strains exhibited 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with each other and that they were most closely to Longispora fulva DSM 45356T (98.7, 98.9 %) and Longispora albida JCM 11711T (97.1, 97.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains were located in the same lineage and formed a cluster with the genus Longispora . Both strains were observed to contain MK-10(H4) and MK-10(H6) as the predominant menaquinones. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid, d-glutamic acid, glycine and l-alanine. Whole-cell hydrolysates mainly contained galactose, ribose and xylose. The phospholipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, several glycolipids and several unknown lipids. The major cellular fatty acids for strain NEAU-PCY-3T were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω5c. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strains NEAU-PCY-3T and NEAU-PCY-4 was 83.6±0.4 %, and the values between the two strains and their closest phylogenetic relatives, belonging to the genus Longispora , were well below 70 %, supporting that they represented a distinct genomic species. An array of phenotypic characteristics also differentiated the strains from their closely related species, the only two validly published Longispora species. On the basis of the genetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties, strains NEAU-PCY-3T and NEAU-PCY-4 were classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Longispora , for which the name Longispora urticae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-PCY-3T (=DSM 105119T=CCTCC AA 2017017T).

Halophilic archaeal strain ZS-54-S2T was isolated from Zhoushan marine solar saltern, China. Cells were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on an agar plate. Strain ZS-54-S2T was able to grow at 20–50 °C (optimum 35 °C), at 1.7–4.8 M NaCl (optimum 3.9 M), at 0.005–1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.05 M) and at pH 5.0–9.5 (optimum pH 7.0). The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was found to be 5 % (w/v). The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, two glycolipids, which were chromatographically identical to sulfated galactosyl mannosyl galactofuranosyl glucosyl diether and galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether, and an unidentified glycolipid, which was chromatographically identical to one detected in Halobacterium salinarum ATCC 33171T. The 16S rRNA gene and rpoB′ gene of strain ZS-54-S2T were phylogenetically related to the corresponding genes of Halobacterium noricense JCM 15102T (97.5 % and 90.6 % relatedness, respectively), Halobacterium jilantaiense CGMCC 1.5337T (96.9 and 91.2 %), Halobacterium rubrum CGMCC 1.12575T (96.8 and 90.3 %) and Halobacterium salinarum CGMCC 1.1958T (96.5 and 88.4 %). The DNA G+C content of strain ZS-54-S2T was 66.7 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain ZS-54-S2T (=CGMCC 1.12562T=JCM 30038T) represents a new species of Halobacterium , for which the name Halobacterium litoreum sp. nov. is proposed.