- Volume 67, Issue 12, 2017

The taxonomic status of strain M16386T, a nitrogen-fixing but non-nodulating isolate from Morella californica, was established on the basis of a polyphasic approach. The strain grows as branched hyphae, with vesicles and non-motile productive multilocular sporangia. It metabolizes short fatty acids, TCA cycle intermediates and carbohydrates as carbon sources, and fixes nitrogen in the absence of combined nitrogen source in the growth media. Chemotaxonomic traits of strain M16386T are consistent with its affiliation to the genus Frankia . The characteristic diamino acid in the cell wall is meso-diaminopimelic acid. Strain M16386T contains phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipid and phospholipid as polar lipids; MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6) as the predominant menaquinones; iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c as major fatty acids; and galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose as whole-cell sugars. Strain M16386T showed 98.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with its closest phylogenetic neighbour, Frankia inefficax DSM 45817T. Based on these results, strain M16386T (=DSM 100626T=CECT 9040T) is designated the type strain of a novel species of the genus Frankia , for which the name Frankia asymbiotica sp. nov. is proposed.

Two rapidly growing mycobacteria with identical 16S rRNA gene sequences were the subject of a polyphasic taxonomic study. The strains formed a well-supported subclade in the mycobacterial 16S rRNA gene tree and were most closely associated with the type strain of Mycobacterium novocastrense . Single and multilocus sequence analyses based on hsp65, rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains SN 1900T and SN 1904T are phylogenetically distinct but share several chemotaxonomic and phenotypic features that are are consistent with their classification in the genus Mycobacterium . The two strains were distinguished by their different fatty acid and mycolic acid profiles, and by a combination of phenotypic features. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values for strains SN 1900T and SN 1904T were 61.0 % and 94.7 %, respectively; in turn, the corresponding dDDH and ANI values with M. novocastrense DSM 44203T were 41.4 % and 42.8 % and 89.3 % and 89.5 %, respectively. These results show that strains SN1900T and SN 1904T form new centres of taxonomic variation within the genus Mycobacterium . Consequently, strains SN 1900T (40T=CECT 8763T=DSM 43219T) and SN 1904T (2409T=CECT 8766T=DSM 43532T) are considered to represent novel species, for which the names Mycobacterium lehmannii sp. nov. and Mycobacterium neumannii sp. nov. are proposed. A strain designated as ‘ Mycobacterium acapulsensis’ was shown to be a bona fide member of the putative novel species, M. lehmannii.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain 1H-SSA8T, was isolated from the head of an ant (Camponotus japonicus Mayr) and was found to produce amphotericin. A polyphasic approach was employed to determine the status of strain 1H-SSA8T. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics were consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces . The menaquinones detected were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4). The phospholipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain 1H-SSA8T belongs to the genus Streptomyces with high sequence similarity to Streptomyces ramulosus NRRL B-2714T (99.2 %). Two tree-making algorithms based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a phyletic line with Streptomyces himastatinicus ATCC 53653T (98.7 %). The MLSA utilizing partial sequences of the housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB and trpB) also supported the position. However, evolutionary distances were higher than the 0.007 MLSA evolutionary distance threshold proposed for species-level relatedness. Moreover, the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic differences allowed the novel isolate to be differentiated from its most closely related strain S. ramulosus NRRL B-2714T and strain S. himastatinicus ATCC 53653T. It is concluded that the organism can be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces amphotericinicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1H-SSA8T (=CGMCC 4.7350T=DSM 103128T).

A novel, non-motile coccoid, Gram-positive and non-endospore forming bacterium, designated Hv14bT, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. It was observed to be catalase positive and oxidase negative and able to hydrolyse starch. MK-8(H2) was identified as the dominant menaquinone and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid. The 16S rRNA genes showed the highest 16S rRNA sequence identity with K. polaris DSM 14382T, K. rosea DSM 20447T and K. turfanensis DSM 22143T. Based on the phenotypic and molecular features and DNA–DNA hybridization data, it is concluded that strain Hv14bT is proposed to represent a novel species in the genus Kocuria , Kocuria salina sp. nov., with the type strain Hv14bT=DSM 28714T=CECT 9229T.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-BB2C19T, was isolated from the root of black soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] collected from Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strain was an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive actinomycete that formed extensively branched substrate mycelium and aerial hyphae. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H2) and MK-9(H0). The major cellular fatty acid profile consisted of iso-C16 : 0, 10-methyl C17 : 0 and 10-methyl C18 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 68.2±0.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NEAU-BB2C19T should be assigned to the genus Nonomuraea and formed a distinct branch with its closest neighbour Nonomuraea guangzhouensis NEAU-ZJ3T (98.75 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of the strain were also consistent with those of members of the genus Nonomuraea . A combination of DNA–DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain NEAU-BB2C19T could be clearly differentiated from its closest phylogenetic relative. Thus, the strain is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea , for which the name Nonomuraea glycinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-BB2C19T (=CGMCC 4.7430T=DSM 104838T).

A novel endophytic filamentous bacterium strain A-T 7972T, was isolated from wild orchid Grosourdya appendiculata (Blume) Rchb.f. collected in Thailand. The bacterium developed single non-motile spores with warty surface on substrate mycelia. The taxonomic position was described using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain A-T 7972T belonged to the genus Verrucosispora and shared the highest sequence similarity with V. lutea YIM 013T (98.71 %) and V. gifhornensis DSM 44337T (98.53 %). The values of DNA–DNA relatedness that distinguished this novel strain from its closest species were below 70 %. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars were mannose, ribose, glucose and xylose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The predominant fatty acids were branched fatty acids iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The diagnostic phospholipids profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.5 mol%. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, the new isolate A-T 7972T (=BCC 50981T=TBRC 6031T=NBRC 112512T) is proposed to be the type strain of novel species, Verrucosispora endophytica sp. nov.

A phthalate esters-degrading bacterial strain, designated QH-11T, was isolated from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, PR China. The cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, short rods and formed white colonies on trypticase soy agar. This isolate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and whole-cell hydrolysates contained arabinose and ribose. Diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were the predominant polar lipids. According to the results of full-length of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, QH-11T represented a member of the genus Gordonia and showed the highest sequence similarity to Gordonia hydrophobica DSM 44015T (99.2 %), but was distinguishable by a low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (37.8 %). Genome-based comparisons indicated a clear distinction from the top ten most similar type strains (16S rRNA gene sequence) with pairwise average nucleotide identities (ANI) between 74.6 and 83.4 %. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-9(H2), the mycolic acids present had 56 to 62 carbon atoms, and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0 (33.3 %), C17 : 1ω8c (23.4 %) and C18 : 1ω9c (17.9 %). The DNA G+C content was 68.0 mol%. On the basis of the results of DNA–DNA hybridization, ANI and physiological and biochemical tests, it is proposed that QH-11T represents a novel species of the genus Gordonia , for which the name Gordonia phthalatica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is QH-11T (CICC 24107T =KCTC 39933T).

A novel streptomycete, strain 594T, isolated from Brazilian soil collected under cerrado (savanna) vegetation cover is described. Strain 594T produced thermophilic chitinolytic proteases in assays containing feather meal and corn steep liquor as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. The strain produced white to grey aerial mycelium and spiral chains of spiny-surfaced spores on the aerial mycelium and did not produce diffusible pigments. The ll-isomer of diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell wall and menaquinones were predominantly MK-9(H6) (52 %) and MK-9(H8) (30 %) with 6 % MK-9(H4) and slightly less than 1 % MK-9(H2). Polar lipids present were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unknown phospholipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C14 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that it differed from described Streptomyces species. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using five housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, rpoB, recA and trpB) comparing Streptomyces type strains showed that the MLSA distance of strain 594T to the most closely related species was greater than the 0.007 threshold. The in silico DNA–DNA relatedness between the genome sequence of strain 594T and that of the phylogenetically nearest species was well below the species level recommendation. There was thus multiple evidence justifying the description of this strain as representing a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces odonnellii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 594T (=IMPPG 594T=DSM 41949T=NRRL B-24891T).

A Gram-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped aerobic bacterial strain FLL521T was isolated from iron mine soil. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FLL521T belonged to genus Nocardioides in family Nocardioidaceae , with the highest sequence identity to Nocardioides panacisoli GSoil 346T (96.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain FLL521T was 70.3 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid. The major respiratory quinone was MK-8(H4), and the predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C17 : 1ω8c. The polar lipids of strain FLL521T were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and three unidentified phospholipids. Strain FLL521T showed physiological and biochemical differences with the related strains in the Voges-Proskauer test, hydrolysis of l-arginine, utilization of d-mannose, inositol, phenylalanine and acid production from l-arabinose. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain FLL521T represents a novel species of Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides immobilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FLL521T (=KCTC 39931T=CCTCC AB 2017083T).

Strain S27T is a Gram-stain-positive, regular rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, yellow pigmented actinobacterium which was isolated from an aerated laboratory scale fermenter fed with wastes of a yeast factory. The strain was classified as Microbacterium sp. after the analysis of its peptidoglycan revealed a novel B-type structure established as variation B2δ by Hensel in 1984. As the combination of the peptidoglycan amino acids 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab), threonine (Thr), glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala) and glutamic acid (Glu) is in disagreement with the current genus definition of Microbacterium but is typical of several Leucobacter species, the taxonomic status of strain S27T was re-examined by a polyphasic study. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and the occurrence of l-Dab, d-Ala, l-Ala, Gly, l-Thr, d-Glu and lower amounts of l-Glu in the peptidoglycan in combination with the predominating menaquinones MK-11, MK-10 and MK-9, phosphatidylglycerol, and one unknown glycolipid as the major polar lipids (and trace amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown phospholipid), a profile with anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 as major fatty acids and the G+C value of 70.1 mol% confirmed the affiliation to the genus Leucobacter and revealed that S27T (=DSM 20621T =CCM 8762T) is the type strain of a new species for which the name Leucobacter weissii sp. nov. is proposed. The availability of new data allows for an emended description of the genus Leucobacter .

Four mesophilic, neutrophilic, and aerobic marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea, designated strains SCM1T, HCA1T, HCE1T and PS0T, were isolated from a tropical marine fish tank, dimly lit deep coastal waters, the lower euphotic zone of coastal waters, and near-surface sediment in the Puget Sound estuary, respectively. Cells are straight or slightly curved small rods, 0.15–0.26 µm in diameter and 0.50–1.59 µm in length. Motility was not observed, although strain PS0T possesses genes associated with archaeal flagella and chemotaxis, suggesting it may be motile under some conditions. Cell membranes consist of glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids, with crenarchaeol as the major component. Strain SCM1T displays a single surface layer (S-layer) with p6 symmetry, distinct from the p3-S-layer reported for the soil ammonia-oxidizing archaeon Nitrososphaera viennensis EN76T. Respiratory quinones consist of fully saturated and monounsaturated menaquinones with 6 isoprenoid units in the side chain. Cells obtain energy from ammonia oxidation and use carbon dioxide as carbon source; addition of an α-keto acid (α-ketoglutaric acid) was necessary to sustain growth of strains HCA1T, HCE1T, and PS0T. Strain PS0T uses urea as a source of ammonia for energy production and growth. All strains synthesize vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin). Optimal growth occurs between 25 and 32 °C, between pH 6.8 and 7.3, and between 25 and 37 ‰ salinity. All strains have a low mol% G+C content of 33.0–34.2. Strains are related by 98 % or greater 16S rRNA gene sequence identity, sharing ~85 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Nitrososphaera viennensis EN76T. All four isolates are well separated by phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and are here assigned to distinct species within the genus Nitrosopumilus gen. nov. Isolates SCM1T (=ATCC TSD-97T =NCIMB 15022T), HCA1T (=ATCC TSD-96T), HCE1T (=ATCC TSD-98T), and PS0T (=ATCC TSD-99T) are type strains of the species Nitrosopumilus maritimus sp. nov., Nitrosopumilus cobalaminigenes sp. nov., Nitrosopumilus oxyclinae sp. nov., and Nitrosopumilus ureiphilus sp. nov., respectively. In addition, we propose the family Nitrosopumilaceae fam. nov. and the order Nitrosopumilales ord. nov. within the class Nitrososphaeria .

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, strain M1A16T, was isolated from the internal tissue of a sponge of the genus Haliclona, which was long-term cultured in the CEMarin aquaria system at Justus Liebig University of Giessen. The strain grew well at 20–32 °C (optimum 25 °C), in the presence of 0–6 % NaCl (optimum 3 %), and at pH 5.5–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the strain within the monophyletic cluster of the genus Winogradskyella with highest sequence similarity to Winogradskyella jejuensis CP32T (98.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Sequence similarities to all other type strains were 98.0 % or less. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain M1A16T with W. jejuensis CP32T resulted in hybridization values of 44.1 % (reciprocal 68.1 %). Major cellular fatty acids of strain M1A16T were iso-C15 : 1 G (18.1 %), iso-C15 : 0 (13.7 %), C16 : 1ω7c (12.9 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (10.6 %) and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (10.2 %). The overall polyamine content was very low with major components being cadaverine, spermidine and sym-homospermidine. The major quinone was menaquinone MK-6. The polar lipid profile contained predominantly phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids devoid of a detectable functional group. The genomic DNA G+C content was 32.7 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses, strain M1A16T represents a novel species of the genus Winogradskyella , for which the name Winogradskyella haliclonae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M1A16T (=DSM 103138T=CCM 8681T=LMG 29588T=CIP 111091T).

A yellow-pigmented strain, designated Y4AR-5T, was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The strain was isolated from a tundra soil from near Longyearbyen, Svalbard Islands, Norway. The cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile. Growth occurred at 4–28 °C (optimum 20 °C) and pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and with 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), an aminophospholipid (APL), a phospholipid (PL), an unidentified aminolipid (AL) and two unidentified lipids. The results of analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the novel strain was most closely related to members of the genus Spirosoma (96.2 % sequence similarity with Spirosoma endophyticum ). The genomic DNA G+C content was 45.9 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain Y4AR-5T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Spirosoma , for which the name Spirosoma flavum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y4AR-5T (=CCTCC AB 2015352T=KCTC 52490T).

A novel aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, strain PTW21T, was isolated from wet soil. 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analysis of strain PTW21T revealed an affiliation to the genus Massilia and it shared 98.5 and 98.1 % similarity with Massilia niastensis 5516 S-1T and Massilia tieshanensis TS3T, respectively. Growth occurred at 10–45 °C, pH 4.5–12.5 and NaCl concentrations up to 2 % (w/v). The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and C16 : 0. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of strain PTW21T was 64.6 mol%. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization revealed that strain PTW21T showed 37.4 % relatedness with Massilia niastensis 5516 S-1T and 40.0 % with M. tieshanensis TS3T. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic differences, strain PTW21T (=CICC 24113T=BCRC 81061T) is proposed as the type strain of novel species of the genus Massilia with the names Massilia neuiana sp. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated 15J16-2T3AT, was isolated from beach soil on Jeju Island, South Korea. Strain 15J16-2T3AT grew at 10–37 °C (optimum growth at 25 °C) and pH 6.5–8.5 (optimum growth at pH 7). Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis, the novel strain was closely related to members of the genus Spirosoma (94.8–89.9 % similarities) and formed a separate branch within the genus together with Spirosoma luteolum 16F6ET in neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 15J16-2T3AT was 47.6 mol%. The detection of menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, a fatty acid profile with summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c; 35.5 %), C16 : 1ω5c (26.6 %), and iso C15 : 0 (10.1 %) as the major components, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified aminophospholipid as the major polar lipids also support the affiliation of strain 15J16-2T3AT with the genus Spirosoma . The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 15J16-2T3AT from members the genus Spirosoma . On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain 15J16-2T3AT represents a novel species of the genus Spirosoma , for which the name Spirosoma litoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15J16-2T3AT (=KCTC 52029T=JCM 31999T)

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic, chemoheterotrophic, light-yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain 02OK1/10-76T, was isolated from a mangrove estuary in Japan by use of an in situ cultivation technique. Preliminary analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the novel isolate was affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes and that it showed highest sequence similarity (96.9 %) to Frondibacter aureus A5Q-67T. The DNA G+C content of strain 02OK1/10-76T was 35 mol%; MK-6 was the only menaquinone; and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH were the major (>10 %) cellular fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified lipid. From the distinct phylogenetic position and combination of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Frondibacter , for which the name Frondibacter mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 02OK1/10-76T (= KCTC 52666T = NBRC 112695T). An emended description of F. aureus is also provided.

Strain K-4-11-1T, a psychrotolerant, light salmon-coloured, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from forest soil of Kyonggi University, Suwon, South Korea. It was able to grow at 0–32 °C, at pH 5.0–10.0 and with 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. This strain was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain K-4-11-1T belongs to the genus Pedobacter and is closely related to Pedobacter ginsenosidimutans THG-45T (98.75 % sequence similarity), Pedobacter borealis G-1T (98.48 %), Pedobacter terrae DS-57T (98.20 %), Pedobacter agri PB92T (97.92 %) and Pedobacter suwonensis 15-52T (97.84 %). The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified glycolipids. The predominant fatty acids of strain K-4-11-1T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 38.3 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain K-4-11-1T and P. ginsenosidimutans KACC 14530T, P. borealis KACC 14287T, P. terrae KACC 13766T, P. agri KACC 13768T and P. suwonensis KACC 11317T were 40.0, 36.3, 37.0, 32.3 and 29.7 %, respectively. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this novel strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain K-4-11-1T represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter , for which the name Pedobacter kyonggii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K-4-11-1T (=KEMB 9005-574T=KACC 19174T=JCM 31916T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated MIMbqt9T, was isolated from biological soil crusts collected in Erdos Plateau in Inner Mongolia. Cells were light pink, rod-shaped, aerobic, Gram-reaction-negative, motile by gliding, oxidase- and catalase-positive. Cell growth could be observed at 5–40 °C (optimum at 30 °C), at pH 4.0–6.0 (optimum at 6.0) and with 1 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain MIMbqt9T was most closely related to the members of genus Larkinella , including L. bovis M2T2B15T (92.06 %), L. arboricola Z0532T (92.00 %) and L. insperata LMG 22510T (91.94 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain MIMbqt9T were C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Polar lipids of the strain MIMbqt9T were mainly composed of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), two unidentified aminolipids (AL1 and AL2) and two unidentified phospholipids (PL1 and PL2). Menaquinone 7 (MK-7) was the major respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 57.63 mol%. On the basis of morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition, phylogeny and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates are assigned to a novel species of the genus Larkinella , for which the name Larkinella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMbqt9T (=MCCC 1K01309T=KCTC 42800T).