- Volume 67, Issue 11, 2017

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile, bacterial strain, 34C10-3-10T, was isolated from symptomatic bark tissue of a Populus × euramericana canker. The isolate could grow between 10 and 37 °C, at pH 5 to 11, and in 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain was oxidase and catalase positive. The ubiquinone of strain 34C10-3-10T was Q-8. The polar lipid profile of strain 34C10-3-10T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipid, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine; the major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c/C16  : 1ω6c. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain 34C10-3-10T and the type strains of reference species Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica S5T and Wohlfahrtiimonas larvae KBL006T were lower than the proposed species boundary cut-off for ANI. The DNA G+C content was 37.1 mol%. Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain 34C10-3-10T represents a novel species of genus Wohlfahrtiimonas ; the name Wohlfahrtiimonas populi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 34C10-3-10T (=CFCC 12747T=KCTC 52796T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-motile, white (translucent) and rod-shaped bacterium (designated HKS-06T) isolated from soil was characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain HKS-06T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C and at pH 6.5–7.0 on R2A agar medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain HKS-06T belongs to the genus Sphingomonas and is most closely related to Sphingomonas lutea JS5T (97.4 % similarity). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.1 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data [major quinone (Q-10), major polar lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, unknown polar lipid) and major fatty acids (summed feature 8, comprising C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, C18 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 0)] supported the affiliation of strain HKS-06T to the genus Sphingomonas . Moreover, the physiological and biochemical results and low level of DNA–DNA relatedness [between strain HKS06T and S . lutea JS5T (20.24±1.2 %)] allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain HKS-06T from recognized species of the genus Sphingomonas . The new isolate therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Sphingomonas agri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HKS-06T (=KACC 18880T=LMG 29563T).

A novel Gram-negative bacterium strain, DRW22-8T, was isolated from fresh water taken at a depth of 22 m at Daechung Reservoir, Republic of Korea. The cells of strain DRW22-8T were aerobic and motile with a single polar flagellum or non-motile (stalked), and formed creamy-white colonies on R2A agar. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the strain formed a separate lineage within the order Rhodobacterales , showing similarity values under 91.8 % with its closest phylogenetic neighbours, Hirschia litorea , Hirschia baltica and Hirschia maritima . The chemotaxonomic results showed Q-10 as the predominant respiratory ubiquinone, three unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified lipid and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids, and C16 : 0, 11-methyl C18 : 1, C18 : 1  ω7c and/or C18 : 1  ω6c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain DRW22-8T could be distinguished from all genera within the family Hyphomonadaceae and represented a novel genus, Asprobacter gen. nov., with the name Asprobacter aquaticus sp. nov., in the family Hyphomonadaceae . The type strain is DRW22-8T (=KCTC 42356T=JCM 30469T).

During a study of bacterial diversity in forest soil, strain G-3-2T, a Gram-stain-negative, light brown-coloured, non-motile, rod- or coccoid-shaped bacterium, was isolated. It was able to grow at 15–37 °C, at pH 5.5–10.0 and at 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. The strain was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain G-3-2T belongs to the genus Ramlibacter and is closely related to Ramlibacter ginsenosidimutans BXN5-27T (98.69 % sequence similarity), Ramlibacter henchirensis TMB834T (96.98 %), Ramlibacter tataouinensis TTB310T (96.49 %) and Ramlibacter solisilvae 5-10T (96.42 %). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acids of strain G-3–2T were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C17 : 0 cyclo, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C10 : 0 3-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 68.9 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain G-3-2T and R. ginsenosidimutans BXN5-27T was 44.7 %, which falls below the threshold value of 70 % for the strain to be considered as novel. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain G-3-2T represents a novel species of the genus Ramlibacter , for which the name Ramlibacter monticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G-3-2T (=KEMB 9005-573T=KACC 19175T=JCM 31918T).

A Gram-negative bacterium, designated E130T, was isolated from rhizospheric soil of Plantago winteri Wirtg. from a natural salt meadow as part of an investigation on rhizospheric bacteria from salt-resistant plant species and evaluation of their plant growth-promoting abilities. Cells were rods, non-motile, aerobic, and oxidase and catalase positive, grew in a temperature range of between 4 and 37 °C, and in the presence of 0.5–5 % NaCl (w/v). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain E130T is affiliated within the genus Ancylobacter , sharing the highest similarity with Ancylobacter rudongensis DSM 17131T (97.6 %), Ancylobacter defluvii CCUG 63806T (97.5 %) and Ancylobacter dichloromethanicus DSM 21507T (97.4 %). The DNA G+C content of strain E130T was 65.1 mol%. Its respiratory quinones were Q-9 and Q-10 and its major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and unidentified phospholipid. Major fatty acids of the strains E130T were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω7c and C19 : 0cyclo ω8c. The DNA–DNA relatedness of E130T to A. rudongensis DSM 17131T , A. defluvii CCUG 63806T and A. dichloromethanicus DSM 21507T was 29.2, 21.2 and 32.2 % respectively. On the basis of our polyphasic taxonomic study the new isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Ancylobacter pratisalsi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E130T (LMG 29367T=DSM 102029T).

Three gammaproteobacterial methanotrophic strains (73aT, 175 and 114) were isolated from stems of rice plants. All strains are Gram-negative, motile and grow on methane or methanol as sole carbon sources. They oxidize methane using the particulate methane monooxygenase. Strains 114 and 175 possess additionally a soluble methane monooxygenase. All strains contain significant amounts of the cellular fatty acids C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω6c and C16 : 1ω7c, typical for type Ib methanotrophs. Characteristic for strains 114 and 175 are high amounts of C14 : 0 and C16 : 1ω6c , while strain 73aT contains high quantities of C16 : 1ω5c. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that strains 114 and 175 are most closely related to Methylomagnum ishizawai (≥99.6 % sequence identity). Strain 73aT is representing a new genus within the family Methylococcaceae , most closely related to Methylococcus capsulatus (94.3 % sequence identity). Phylogenetic analysis of the PmoA sequence indicates that strain 73aT represents rice paddy cluster I (RPCI), which has almost exclusively been detected in rice ecosystems. The G+C content of strain 73aT is 61.0 mol%, while strains 114 and 175 have a G+C content of 63.3 mol%. Strain 73aT (=LMG 29185T, =VKM B-2986T) represents the type strain of a novel species and genus, for which the name Methyloterricola oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed and a description is provided. Strains 175 (=LMG 28717, VKM B-2989) and 114 are members of the species Methylomagnum ishizawai . This genus was so far only represented by one isolate, so an amended description of the species is given.

Three bacterial strains were isolated from liver and spleen of diseased farmed redbanded seabream (Pagrus auriga) in south-west Spain. Their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences clustered within those of the genus Photobacterium , showing high similarity (98.6–99.3 %) to the type strains of Photobacterium iliopiscarium , P. piscicola , P. kishitanii , P. aquimaris and P. phosphoreum . Multilocus sequence analysis using six housekeeping genes (gapA, topA, mreB, ftsZ, gyrB and 16S rRNA) confirmed the new strains as forming an independent branch with a bootstrap value of 100, likely to represent a novel species. To confirm this, we used whole genome sequencing and genomic analysis (ANIb, ANIm and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization) obtaining values well below the thresholds for species delineation. In addition, a phenotypic characterization was performed to support the description and differentiation of the novel strains from related taxa. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, motile bacilli, chemo-organotrophic and facultatively anaerobic. They fermented glucose, as well as galactose and d-mannose, without production of gas. Oxidase and catalase were positive. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C16  :  0. The predominant respiratory quinone (Q-8) and major polar lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol) were inferred from annotated genes in the genome of strain H01100410BT, which had a G+C content of 38.6 mol%. The results obtained demonstrate that the three strains represent a novel species, for which the name Photobacterium toruni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H01100410BT (=CECT 9189T=LMG 29991T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-endospore-forming, flagellated bacterium, designated strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T, was isolated from surface seawater of Geoje Island, Republic of Korea. Strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T showed algalytic activity against the seven strains tested: Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Chattonella marina, Heterosigma akashiwo, Scrippsiella trochoidea, Heterocapsa triquetra, Prorocentrum minimum and Skeletonema costatum. A taxonomic study was carried out based on a polyphasic approach to characterize the exact taxonomic position of strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T. The bacterium was able to grow at 10–40 °C, at salinities from 0 to 9 %, at pH from 4.0 to 9.0 and was not able to degrade gelatin or casein. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T was considered to represent a novel species of the genus Porphyrobacter , which belongs to the family Erythrobacteraceae, and was related most closely to Porphyrobacter dokdonensis DSW-74T with 97.23 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The dominant cellular fatty acids of strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T were C18 : 1ω7c (49.7 %), C16 : 0 (12.0 %) and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c (11.5 %), and ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was the predominant respiratory lipoquinone. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Yeonmyeong 2-22T was calculated to be 63.0 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics of the novel strain also differed from other members of the genus Porphyrobacter . On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic data, strain Yeonmyeong 2-22Trepresents as a novel species of the genus Porphyrobacter , for which the name of Porphyrobacter algicida sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Yeonmyeong 2-22T (=KEMB 9005-328T=JCM 31499T).

An aerobic facultatively methylotrophic bacterium was isolated from roots of Sonchus arvensis L. and designated strain OsotT The cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative, asporogenous, motile short rods multiplying by binary fisson. They utilized methanol, methylamines and a variety of polycarbon compounds as the carbon and energy sources. Methanol was assimilated after sequential oxidation to formaldehyde and CO2 via the ribulose bisphosphate pathway. The organism grew optimally at 22–29 °C and pH 7.5–8.0. The dominant phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol (cardiolipin). The major cellular fatty acids of strain OsotT cells grown in R2A medium were C18 : 1 ω7c (49.0 %), C19 : 0 ω8c cyclo (38.3 %) and C16 : 0 (8.4 %). The major ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content of strain OsotT was 66.1 mol% (T m). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis strain OsotT is phylogenetically related to the members of genus Ancylobacter (97.1–98.8 % sequence similarity). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness (27–29 %) with type strains of the genus Ancylobacter , the novel isolate is classified as a new species of this genus and named Ancylobacter sonchi sp. nov.; the type strain is OsotT (=VKM B-3145T=JCM 32039T).

Four heterotrophic, antimicrobial, motile, marine bacterial strains, 27-4T, 8-1, M6-4.2 and S26, were isolated from aquaculture units in Spain, Denmark and Greece. All four strains produced the antibiotic compound tropodithietic acid, which is a key molecule in their antagonism against fish pathogenic bacteria. Cells of the strains were Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and formed star-shaped aggregates in liquid culture and brown-coloured colonies on marine agar. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0, C11 methyl C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0 2-OH, and the polar lipids comprised phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an aminolipid, a phospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The strains grew optimally at 31–33 °C. Growth was observed at a salt concentration between 0.5 and 5–6 % NaCl with an optimum at 2–3 %. The pH range for growth of the strains was from pH 6 to 8–8.5 with an optimum at pH 7. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains are affiliated with the genus Phaeobacter . The genome sequences of the strains have a DNA G+C content of 60.1 % and share an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of more than 95 %. The four strains are distinct from the type strains of the closely related species Phaeobacter gallaeciensis and Phaeobacter inhibens based on an ANI of 90.5–91.7 and 89.6–90.4 %, respectively, and an in silico DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness of 43.9–46.9 and 39.8–41.9 %, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic analyses as well as phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties, the isolates are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Phaeobacter piscinae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 27-4T (=DSM 103509T=LMG 29708T).

A novel alphaproteobacterium, strain RAM11T, belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae was isolated from the pool water of a thermal bath in Budapest, Hungary. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence strain RAM11T shows the highest sequence similarity values to Ensifer adhaerens Casida A (97.44 %), to Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium ) americanus CFNEI 156T (96.87 %) and to Rhizobium azooxidifex Po 20/26T (96.76 %). The new bacterium is strictly aerobic, its optimum growth occurs at 20–37 °C, between pH 7 and 9 and without NaCl. It is motile due to a single polar flagellum, capable of budding and forms rosettes in liquid culture. The major isoprenoid quinone of strain RAM11T is Q-10, the major cellular fatty acids are C18 : 1 ω7c and 11-MeC18 : 1 ω7c. The polar lipid profile contains phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The G+C content of DNA of the type strain is 62.9 mol%. Strain RAM11T (=DSM 29853T=NCAIM B.02618T) is proposed as type strain of a new genus and species with the proposed name Gellertiella hungarica gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel bacterium, designated as strain HJR7T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from the coastal area of Weihai, China (121° 57′ E, 37° 29′ N). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped. The temperature, pH and NaCl ranges for growth were determined as 4–40 °C, pH 6.5–9.5 and 0.5–15.0 % (w/v), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain HJR7T belongs to the genus Marinobacter in the family Alteromonadaceae . The most closely related species were Marinobacter aromaticivorans (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Marinobacter maritimus (97.3 % similarity). Ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) was the only respiratory quinone detected in strain HJR7T. The major fatty acids of strain HJR7T were C12 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 0 N alcohol, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 3ω6, 9, 12c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain HJR7T was 53.7 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, genotypic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain HJR7T represents a novel species within the genus Marinobacter , for which the name Marinobacter salexigens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HJR7T (=KCTC 52545T=MCCC 1H00176T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated CJ661T, was isolated from soil of ginseng in Anseong, South Korea. Cells of strain CJ661T were white-coloured, Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, aerobic and rod-shaped. Strain CJ661T grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CJ661T showed that it belongs to the genus Ramlibacter within the family Comamonadaceae and was most closely related to Ramlibacter ginsenosidimutans KCTC 22276T (98.1 %), followed by Ramlibacter henchirensis DSM 14656T (97.1 %). DNA–DNA relatedness levels of strain CJ661T were 40.6 % to R. ginsenosidimutans KCTC 22276T and 25.0 % to R. henchirensis DSM 14656T. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone (Q-8). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CJ661T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.4 mol%. On the basis polyphasic taxonomic data, strain CJ661T represents a novel species in the genus Ramlibacter , for which name Ramlibacter alkalitolerans sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CJ661T (=KACC 19305T=JCM 32081T).

Two moderately halophilic marine bacterial strains of the family Rhodobacteraceae , designated ZGT108T and ZGT118T, were isolated from the brine–seawater interface at Erba Deep in the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia). Cells of both strains were aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, and Gram-stain-negative. The sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA genes of strains ZGT108T and ZGT118T was 94.9 %. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain ZGT108T to its closest relative, Ruegeria conchae JCM 17315T, was 98.9 %, while the 16S rRNA gene of ZGT118T was most closely related to that of Ruegeria intermedia LMG 25539T (97.7 % similarity). The sizes of the draft genomes as presented here are 4 258 055 bp (strain ZGT108T) and 4 012 109 bp (strain ZGT118T), and the G+C contents of the draft genomes are 56.68 mol% (ZGT108T) and 62.94 mol% (ZGT108T). The combined physiological, biochemical, phylogenetic and genotypic data supported placement of both strains in the genus Ruegeria and indicated that the two strains are distinct from each other as well as from all other members in the genus Ruegeria . This was also confirmed by low DNA–DNA hybridization values (<43.6 %) and low ANI values (<91.8 %) between both strains and the most closely related Ruegeria species. Therefore, we propose two novel species in the genus Ruegeria to accommodate these novel isolates: Ruegeria profundi sp. nov. (type strain ZGT108T=JCM 19518T=ACCC 19861T) and Ruegeria marisrubri sp. nov. (type strain ZGT118T=JCM 19519T=ACCC 19862T).

The bacterial strain MWH-K35W1T was isolated from a permanently anoxic water layer of a meromictic lake located in the Austrian Salzkammergut area. The basically chemo-organoheterotrophic strain was isolated and maintained under aerobic conditions. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and the glutamine synthetase gene (glnA) of the strain suggested an affiliation to the genus Polynucleobacter and the cryptic species complex PnecC. Strain MWH-K35W1T shares with the type strains of the six free-living species of the genus Polynucleobacter affiliated with this species complex 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99.6–99.9 %, while the type material of the obligate endosymbiont Polynucleobacter necessarius, which is also affiliated with this species complex, shares a gene sequence similarity of 99.1 %. Genome sequencing resulted in a genome size of 2.14 Mbp and a DNA G+C content of 45.98 mol%. Major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. This strain is the first strain of the genus Polynucleobacter found to encode a proteorhodopsin-like protein but, in contrast to some other strains affiliated to this genus, it does not encode a putative anoxygenic photosynthesis system. Multilocus sequence analysis based on partial sequences of eight housekeeping genes, as well as average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses, did not suggest that strain MWH-K35W1T belongs to a previously described species. We propose the name Polynucleobacter aenigmaticus for a novel species with strain MWH-K35W1T (=DSM 24006T=LMG 29706T) as the type strain.

Strain D-14T, a brown-coloured, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from oil-contaminated soil. It was able to grow at 20–40 °C, at pH 6.0–10.0 and at 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain D-14T belonged to the genus Lysobacter and was closely related to Lysobacter caeni BUT-8T (99.0 % sequence similarity), Lysobacter ruishenii CTN-1T (98.5 %), Lysobacter daejeonensis GH1-9T (98.2 %) and Lysobacter panacisoli CJ29T (97.2 %). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidyl-N-methyl-ethanolamine. The predominant fatty acids of strain D-14T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C14 : 0, C11 : 0iso 3-OH, C15 : 1iso F and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 68.7 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain D-14T and L. caeni BUT-8T, L. ruishenii CTN-1T, L. daejeonensis GH1-9T and L. panacisoli CJ29T were 56.0, 46.3, 48.7 and 41.7 %, respectively, which fall below the threshold value of 70 % for the strain to be considered as novel. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain D-14T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter olei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D-14T (=KEMB 9005-572T=KACC 19173T=JCM 31917T).

Four subspecies of Lonsdalea quercina ( L. quercina subsp. quercina , L. quercina subsp. britannica , L. quercina subsp. iberica and L. quercina subsp. populi ) were studied by genome sequence-derived average nucleotide identity (ANI), phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and phenotypic characteristics. In phylogenetic trees, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, and in MLSA data, the four subspecies were divided into four subclusters in the Lonsdalea clade with high boot strap support. The ANI values between the four subspecies were 88.71–93.38 %, respectively, lower than the proposed species boundary ANI cut-off (95–96 %) that is considered the most important criterion to reclassify these subspecies at the species level. It is proposed that three subspecies be elevated to the species level as Lonsdalea britannica sp. nov. (type strain R-43280T=LMG 26267T=NCPPB 4481T=CFCC 10822T), Lonsdalea iberica sp. nov. (type strain R-44166T=LMG 26264T=NCPPB 4490T=CFCC 10824T) and Lonsdalea populi sp. nov. (type strain NY060T=DSM 25466T=NCAIM B 02483T=LMG 27349T=CFCC 13125T).

Two facultative chemolithotrophic, nitrate-reducing thiosulfate-oxidizing strains, F43bT and F21, were isolated from the sulfide-rich anoxic sediment of an urban creek in Pearl River Delta, China. Both strains were Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped with a flagellum. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes and the thrC, recA, glnII and atpD housekeeping genes revealed that the type strain shared high sequence similarities to Ciceribacter lividus MSSRFBL1T, with 98.8, 90.9, 94.8, 95.4 and 96.1 % identity, respectively. In addition, the major isoprenoid quinone (ubiquinone Q-10) and the DNA G+C content (66.0 mol%) of the type strain were similar to those of Ciceribacter lividus MSSRFBL1T. These results strongly support the classification of strains F43bT and F21 into the genus Ciceribacter . However, these strains diverged markedly from strain MSSRFBL1T with respect to several physiological and biochemical properties such as their semi-translucent colonies and nitrate-reducing and simultaneous thiosulfate-oxidizing respiration. Furthermore, the predominant fatty acids of strain F43bT were summed feature 2 (C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω9c and/or C18 : 1ω11t), C14 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0, and its polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidymonomethylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid, which represented another two significant differences from strain MSSRFBL1T. Importantly, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain F43bT and MSSRFBL1T was only 47.7 %. Based on the aforementioned polyphasic taxonomic results, the two isolates are suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Ciceribacter , for which the name Ciceribacter thiooxidans sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is F43bT (=CCTCC AB 2016062T=KCTC 52231T).

A Gram-stain-negative, ovoid-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and moderately thermophilic bacterial strain, designated strain YIM 72346T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. Growth occurred at 37–50 °C (optimum, 45 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 6.5–7.0) and in the presence of 0.5–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %). The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C19 : 0cyclo ω8c,and C18 : 1 2-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 69.8 mol%. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. Bacteriochlorophyll α and carotenoic acids were not detected. Strain YIM 72346T was not observed for the accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. The strain shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence identities with Crenalkalicoccus roseus YIM 78023T (93.3 %) and Craurococcus roseus NS130T (92.7 %), but formed a distinct lineage within the family Acetobacteraceae in the phylogenetic trees. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM 72346T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Acetobacteraceae , for which the name Caldovatus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Caldovatus sediminis is YIM 72346T (=KCTC 52714T=CGMCC 1.16330T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated YIM 73061T, was isolated from the Cholistan desert in Punjab, Pakistan, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed the highest levels of sequence similarity with respect to Phenylobacterium conjunctum FWC21T (97.6 %), Phenylobacterium lituiforme FaiI3T (97.4 %), Phenylobacterium composti 4T-6T (97.0 %) and Phenylobacterium aquaticum W2-3-4T (96.8 %). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and motile rods that formed orange colonies. The strain was oxidase- and catalase-positive. Growth occurred at 20–40 °C (optimum, 30–37 °C) at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–0.5 %). The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified glycolipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 66.8 mol%. Strain YIM 73061T showed low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness to P. conjunctum FWC21T (27.2±2.6 %), P. lituiforme FaiI3T (24.6±1.1 %) and P. composti 4T-6T (18.4±3.1 %). On the basis of phylogenetic inference, chemotaxonomic characteristics and phenotypic data, strain YIM 73061T should be classified as representing a novel species, for which the name Phenylobacterium deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 73061T (=DSM 103871T=CCTCC AB 2016297T).