- Volume 67, Issue 12, 2017

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and heterotrophic strain, designated 1-19bT, was isolated from surface seawater in the Indian Ocean. The cells were ovoid or coccus (0.8–1.0 µm in diameter) with no flagellum. Activities of catalase and oxidase were positive. Growth was observed at salinity of 0.5–10 (%NaCl, w/v) with an optimum of 3–4, at pH 5–10 with an optimum of 7–8, and at 5–37 °C with an optimum of 28-35 °C. It accumulated poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules inside the cell. Bacteriochlorophyll a was absent. The respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the dominant fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 1-19bT belonged to the family Rhodobacteraceae and formed a distinct monophyletic clade with 'Oceaniovalibus guishaninsula' JLT2003 and Pontibaca methylaminivorans GRP21T, exhibiting similarities of 94.7 and 92.2 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.2 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain 1-19bT represents a novel species in a new genus of the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Oceaniglobus indicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 1-19bT (=MCCC 1A11863T=KCTC 52709T).

A novel bacterium, designated strain DL503T, was isolated from a Daqu sample and its taxonomic position determined using a polyphasic taxonomy. Strain DL503T was a Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-sporulating, motile and coccoid-rod-shaped bacterium. Optimum growth occurred at 20–45 °C, pH 5.0–10.0 and 1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate belongs to the genus Franconibacter , showing highest levels of similarity with respect to Franconibacter pulveris JCM 16471T (98.94 %) and Franconibacter helveticus DSM 18396T (98.39 %). Cells contained the quinones Q-8 and MK-8, and the polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified polar lipids and three unidentified amino lipids. The DNA G+C content was 53.3 mol% and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 4 (C17 : 1 iso I and/or C17 : 1 anteiso B) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DL503T and its close relatives, including F. pulveris JCM 16471T and F. helveticus DSM 18396T, were 51.5±0.5 % and 45.2±1.1 %, respectively. Based on phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and genotypic data, it is concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Franconibacter , for which the name Franconibacter daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DL503T (=LMG 29914T=CGMCC 1.15944T).

Novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, vibrio-shaped, anaerobic, alkaliphilic, sulfate-reducing bacteria, designated strains PAR180T and PAR190, were isolated from sediments collected at an alkaline crater lake in Guanajuato (Mexico). Strain PAR180T grew at temperatures between 15 and 40 °C (optimum 35 °C), and at pH between 8.3 and 10.4 (optimum 9). It was halotolerant, growing with up to 8 % (w/v) NaCl. Lactate, formate, pyruvate and ethanol were used as electron donors in the presence of sulfate and were incompletely oxidized to acetate and CO2. The isolate was able to grow with hydrogen and with CO2 as a carbon source. Beside sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate were used as terminal electron acceptors. The isolate was able to grow by disproportionation of sulfite and thiosulfate, but not elemental sulfur, using acetate as a carbon source. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and summed feature 10 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω12t). The DNA G+C content was 56.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that it belongs to the genus Desulfonatronum , class Deltaproteobacteria . Its closest relative is Desulfonatronum thiosulfatophilum (98.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain PAR180T and the type strain of D. thiosulfatophilum was 37.1±2.5 %. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the isolates is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Desulfonatronum , for which the name Desulfonatronum parangueonense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PAR180T (=DSM 103602T=JCM 31598T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated CAM-8T, was isolated from an artificial fountain at Chonbuk National University, South Korea. The novel strain grew at 20–37 °C (optimum 25 °C), pH 5.5–7.0 (optimum 6.0) and with 0–2 % NaCl (optimum 0 %). Oxidase and catalase activities were positive. The cell morphology of strain CAM-8T was atypical rods 0.6–0.8 µm in width and 4.5–6.5 µm in length, with a peaked tip and sometimes a bulb shape. CAM-8T existed as single cells, and as pairs or chains of cells. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CAM-8T clustered with Gemmobacter nectariphilus JCM 11959T and Gemmobacter megaterium JCM 18498T within the genus Gemmobacter . The DNA G+C content of strain CAM-8T was 65.9 mol%. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c. The polar lipids of strain CAM-8T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two uncharacterized phospholipids, an uncharacterized aminolipid, an uncharacterized glycolipid, an uncharacterized aminophospholipid and four uncharacterized lipids. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain CAM-8T (=KACC 19224T=JCM 31905T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Gemmobacter , for which the name Gemmobacter straminiformis sp. nov. is proposed.

Two strains of thermotolerant phototrophic alphaproteobacteria, designated strains TUT3542T and TUT3581T, were isolated from sediment mud and cyanobacterial mats in a geothermal spring in Japan, respectively, and taxonomically characterized. Both the strains were budding motile rods and were able to grow at 45 °C. Phototrophically grown cells of strains TUT3542T and TUT3581T produced pink and brownish red cultures, respectively, and showed in vivo absorption maxima at 800, 858–859 and 892–895 nm in the near infrared region, indicating the presence of a core reaction centre and peripheral pigment complexes with bacteriochlorophyll a. The intracytoplasmic membrane system was of the lamellar type parallel to the cytoplasmic membrane. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strains TUT3542T and TUT3581T had the highest similarity level to Rhodoplanes oryazae NBRC 109406T (99.6 %) and Rhodoplanes elegans AS130T (99.3 %), respectively. Genomic DNA–DNA reassociation studies revealed that strains TUT3542T and TUT3581T had hybridization levels of less than 62 and 56 % to the type strains of all established species of the genus Rhodoplanes , respectively. The G+C contents of genomic DNA were 67.7 mol% for strain TUT3542T and 70.4 mol% for strain TUT3581T. Results of phenotypic studies showed that the two novel strains could be differentiated from any of the previously described Rhodoplanes species. Thus, the author proposes the names Rhodoplanes tepidicaeni sp. nov. for strain TUT3542T and Rhodoplanes azumiensis sp. nov. for strain TUT3581T. The type strain of Rhodoplanes tepidicaeni is TUT3542T (=KCTC 15602T=NBRC 112815T) and the type strain of Rhodoplanes azumiensis is TUT3581T (=KCTC 15603T=NBRC 112816T).

A novel bacterium, designated R14M6T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Cells are Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, pale yellow, short-rod-shaped, polar-flagellated and aggregate-forming. Growth occurs at 4–36 °C, pH 6.0–8.3, and in 1–15 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain R14M6T clustered together with Aurantimonas endophytica EGI6500337T and fell within the genus Aurantimonas . The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain R14M6T shared similarity with A. endophytica EGI6500337T (99.15 %), A. manganoxydans DSM 21871T (97.73 %), A. coralicida DSM 14790T (97.58 %) and ‘ A. litoralis ’ KCTC 12094 (97.51 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain R14M6T and A. endophytica EGI6500337T, A. coralicida DSM 14790T, A. manganoxydans DSM 21871T and ‘ A. litoralis ’ KCTC 12094 were 36.9±4.5, 27.6±2.8, 29.6±1.2 and 25.2±2.4 % respectively. The major fatty acid of strain R14M6T was C18 : 1 ω7c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminolipid. Strain R14M6T contained Q-10 as the dominant isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain R14M6T was 67.4 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain R14M6T represents a novel species of the genus Aurantimonas , for which the name Aurantimonas aggregata sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R14M6T (=GDMCC 1.1202T=KCTC 52919T).

Two strains, AFRC7-2-1T and CFD7-4-2, were isolated from the intestine of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. The bacterial cells were Gram-stain-negative, stick-shaped and non-flagellated. They were facultative anaerobic bacteria and could reduce Fe(III) to Fe(II). The 16S rRNA genes of two strains shared 99.7 % sequence similarity, and had the highest similarity of 97.3–97.5 % with Paraferrimonas sedimenticola NBRC 101628T, and of <94.0 % with other species. Phylogenetic relationship showed that the two strains formed a tight clade with an isolate Paraferrimonas sp. CGB11 obtained from the intestine of small abalone, H. diversicolor, and P. sedimenticola NBRC 101628T. The resulted DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) values of strains AFRC7-2-1T and CFD7-4-2 compared with P. sedimenticola NBRC 101628T was 18.8–18.9 %. The resultant average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of AFRC7-2-1T and CFD7-4-2 compared with P. sedimenticola NBRC 101628T was 71.3–71.5 %. The predominant fatty acids (>5 %) of strains AFRC7-2-1T and CFD7-4-2 were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C13 : 0, C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω8c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c). The quinone system of strains AFRC7-2-1T and CFD7-4-2 were quinone-8, menaquinone-6, menaquinone-7, and quinone-7. The predominant polar lipids of strain AFRC7-2-1T were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), one unidentified phospholipid (PL), and three minor unidentified lipids (Ls). The genomic DNA G+C contents of two strains were 47.2 mol%. In summary, the two strains represented a novel species of the genus Paraferrimonas , for which the name Paraferrimonas haliotis sp. nov. was proposed, with type strain AFRC7-2-1T (=MCCC 1A11748T=KCTC 52632T=NBRC 112785T) and strain CFD7-4-2 (=MCCC 1A11749=KCTC 52631=NBRC 112786).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated JN33T, was isolated from seawater collected from the western Pacific Ocean. Strain JN33T was positive for hydrolysis of aesculin and gelatin. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JN33T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Actibacterium atlanticum 22II-S11-z10T (97.3 %), A. mucosum KCTC 23349T (96.6 %) and A. ureilyticum LS-811T (95.7 %) and exhibited less than 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to the other type strains within the family Rhodobacteraceae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain JN33T fell within the cluster of the genus Actibacterium. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain JN33T and the type strains of Actibacterium species were 73.1–73.8 % and 19.8–20.1 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. Distinctly different phylogenetic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, as well as phenotypic properties, revealed that strain JN33T could be differentiated from the Actibacterium species with validly published names. Therefore, it is proposed that strain JN33T represents a novel species of the genus Actibacterium, for which the name Actibacterium pelagium sp. nov. (type strain, JN33T=CGMCC 1.16012T=KCTC 52653T) is proposed.

The genus Polynucleobacter (family Burkholderiaceae ) is phylogenetically subdivided into at least four subclusters. One of those, subcluster PnecC, was recognized as a cryptic species complex. Here we test by comparative genome analyses whether subcluster PnecD, currently solely represented by the species Polynucleobacter cosmopolitanus , also represents such a cryptic species complex. The genome sequences of the two P. cosmopolitanus strains, MWH-MoIso2T and MWH-VicM1, were determined. The latter strain was also characterized in the previous description of P. cosmopolitanus . These two strains originate from a temperate lake located in Austria and from the large tropical Lake Victoria located in East Africa, respectively. Strains MWH-MoIso2T and MWH-VicM1 possess quite small genomes of 1.78 and 1.63 Mbp, respectively, and share similar G+C values of 44.1 and 43.1 mol%, respectively. Both strains encode only a single copy of the ribosomal operon, and their 16S rRNA genes differ only in four positions, equalling a sequence similarity of 99.74 %. Both genomes possess characteristics indicating evolutionary genome streamlining, such as high coding densities of 93.9 and 94.6 % of bases, respectively. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) comparisons of the genomes of the two strains resulted in a value of 78.4 %, suggesting that each of the strains represents a separate species. Our investigation suggests that PnecD represents an additional cryptic species complex within the genus Polynucleobacter that was not resolved by 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. We propose reclassification of strain MWH-VicM1 as Polynucleobacter victoriensis sp. nov., with type strain MWH-VicM1T(=DSM 21486T=JCM 32005T).

Strain KYPY9T, isolated from the Funglin Stream in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of KYPY9T were Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by means of a single polar flagellum, rod-shaped and formed light yellow colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 20–25 °C, at pH 7 and with 0 % NaCl. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that KYPY9T represented a member of the genus Undibacterium and the sequence similarity between the 16S rRNA genes of KYPY9T and of the type strains of other species of the genus Undibacterium ranged from 94.1 to 98.0 %. The closest relatives of KYPY9T were Undibacterium seohonense SHS5-24T (98.0 %) and Undibacterium macrobrachii CMJ-9T (97.0 %). KYPY9T had summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids. The major cellular hydroxy fatty acid was C10 : 0 3-OH. KYPY9T had phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol as the predominant polar lipids. The polyamine profile was composed of the major compound 2-hydroxyputrescine and moderate amounts of putrescine. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the DNA G+C content was 47.4 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness of KYPY9T with respect to Undibacterium seohonense SHS5-24T and Undibacterium macrobrachii CMJ-9T was less than 35 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, KYPY9T was recognized as a representative of a novel species within the genus Undibacterium . The name Undibacterium amnicola sp. nov. is proposed, with KYPY9T (=BCRC 81009T=LMG 29730T=KCTC 52442T) as the type strain.

A Gram stain-negative, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated NB097-1T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from the Bering Sea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain NB097-1T grew at 0–25 °C, with an optimum growth temperature of 10–13 °C. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NB097-1T belonged to the genus Colwellia . Strain NB097-1T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.6, 98.5, 98.0, 97.2 and 96.8 % with the type strains of Colwellia mytili , C. sediminilitoris , C. aestuarii , C. polaris and C. chukchiensis , respectively. Strain NB097-1T had Q-8 as the major respiratory quinone and contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain NB097-1T were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain NB097-1T was 38.5 mol%, and its average nucleotide identity values with the type strains of C. mytili , C. sediminilitoris , C. aestuarii , C. polaris and C. chukchiensis were 77.30, 78.99, 78.82, 80.66 and 75.77 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, together with average nucleotide identity value data, strain NB097-1T represents a novel species of the genus Colwellia , for which the name Colwellia beringensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NB097-1T (=MCCC 1A11668T=KCTC 52554T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic, motile, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped strain, designated WDN1C137T, was isolated from a marine saltern at Wendeng, PR China. Optimal growth occurred at 40 °C, pH 7.5 and with 7.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Q-10 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) in WDN1C137T were C18 : 1ω7c (46.2 %), cyclo C19 : 0ω8c (18.7 %) and C16 : 0 (12.3 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that WDN1C137T shared the highest similarity (94.5 %) to Roseivivax jejudonensis KCTC 42110T, followed by Roseivivax halodurans JCM 10272T (94.2 %) and Roseivivax roseus DSM 23042T (94.1 %). WDN1C137T formed a separate branch from the closely related genera Roseivivax , Loktanella , Paracoccus and Cribrihabitans within the family Rhodobacteraceae , which indicated that it represented a novel genus in the phylogenetic tree. On the basis of the data from the current polyphasic study, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family Rhodobacteraceae , with the name Rhodosalinus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is WDN1C137T (=KCTC 52478T=MCCC 1H00170T).

Two yellow-pigmented isolates, S5-249T and L9-754T, originating from surface-sterilized plant tissues of Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) cultivars were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strains S5-249T and L9-754T had 16S rRNA genes sharing 94.2 % sequence similarity with each other and 91.6–97.2 % sequence similarity with those of other species in the genus Sphingomonas , suggesting that they represent two potentially novel species. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains S5-249T and L9-754T shared the highest similarity to that of Sphingomonas sanguinis NBRC 13937T (96.1 and 97.2 %, respectively). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains S5-249T and L9-754T were 66.9 and 68.5 mol%, respectively. The respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-10, and the major polyamine was homospermidine. Strains S5-249T and L9-754T contained summed feature 7 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω12t), C16 : 1, C14 : 0 2-OH and summed feature 4 (C16 : 1ω7t, iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 1ω7c) as the major cellular fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingoglycolipid. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between S. sanguinis NBRC 13937T and the two type strains (S5-249T and L9-754T) were 72.31 and 77.73 %, respectively. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) studies between the novel strains (S5-249T and L9-754T) and other species of the genus Sphingomonas were well below the thresholds used to discriminate between bacterial species. The results of dDDH and physiological tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the strains from each other as well as from the species of the genus Sphingomonas with validly published names. These data strongly support the classification of the strains as representatives of novel species, for which we propose the names Sphingomonas jatrophae sp. nov. (type strain S5-249T=DSM 27345T=KACC 17593T) and Sphingomonas carotinifaciens sp. nov. (type strain L9-754T=DSM 27347T=KACC 17595T).

Three alkaliphilic and halotolerant bacterial strains, designated ZV-19T, R4-8T and S4-12, were isolated from the water of soda pans located in the Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. Cells of all three strains were Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, motile and non-endospore-forming. They were facultatively anaerobic, and oxidase- and catalase-positive. Their major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8, and their predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 54.5 mol% in strain ZV-19 T and 45.8 mol% in strain R4-8T. The 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis showed that all three strains were members of the genus Nitrincola (family Oceanospirillaceae, class Gammaproteobacteria). Strain ZV-19T showed 96.6 and 95.5 % sequence similarities and 19±3 and 18±3 % DNA–DNA relatedness to Nitrincola lacisaponensis DSM 16316T and Nitrincola alkalisediminis JCM 19317T, respectively. Strains R4-8T and S4-12 exhibited 97.9 and 98.6 % sequence matches and 34±4 and 13±8 % DNA–DNA hybridization values with N. lacisaponensis DSM 16316T and N. alkalisediminis JCM 19317T, respectively. According to the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, the strains studied represent two novel species, Nitrincola alkalilacustris sp. nov. with the type strain ZV-19T (=DSM 29817T=NCAIM B 02612T) and Nitrincola schmidtii sp. nov. with the type strain R4-8T (=DSM 100788T=NCAIM B.02626T). An emended description of the genus Nitrincola is also presented.

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, yellow-pigmented bacteria, designated strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET, were isolated from a green alga Paulinella chromatophora. Both strains were motile short rods with a flagellum and optimally grew at pH 6.0–7.0, 25–30 °C and 0–1 % NaCl. They contained ubiquinone-10 as the major quinone, spermidine as the major polyamine, C16 : 0, C14 : 0 2-OH and summed features 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and 8 (comprising C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) as the major fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine, two sphingoglycolipids and phosphatidylcholine as the major polar lipids. DNA G+C contents of strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET were 61.4 and 63.9 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET formed a phylogenic lineage with Sphingobium limneticum 301T. Strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET had a 99.86 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and their DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) relatedness value was 40.6 %. Strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET were most closely related to S. limneticum 301T with 99.93 and 99.76 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively and the DDH values between strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET and the type strain of S. limneticum were 43.3 and 32.1 %, respectively. In conclusion, strains Pch-BT and Pch-ET represent novel species of the genus Sphingobium , for which the names Sphingobium paulinellae sp. nov. and Sphingobium algicola sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strains of S. paulinellae and S. algicola are Pch-BT (=KACC 19283T=JCM 32054T) and Pch-ET (=KACC 19284T=JCM 32055T), respectively.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic and oligotrophic, rod-shaped, and motile with single polar flagellum bacterial strain, designed M11-4T was isolated from mangrove sediment in Yunxiao Mangrove National Nature Reserve, China. Growth was observed at temperatures from 10 to 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), at salinities from 0.5 to 6 % (optimum 2–3 %), and at pH from 5 to 8 (optimum 6). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain M11-4T shared highest sequence similarity with the genus Marinobacter (92.5–95.0 %) and represented a distinct phylogenetic lineage in the family Alteromonadaceae . The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 58.2 mol%. The dominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 0 N-alcohol, summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-9 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol; phosphatidylethanolamine; phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminophospholipid. According to its morphology, physiology, fatty acid composition and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain M11-4T should be assigned as a novel species of a novel genus for which the name Mangrovitalea sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Mangrovitalea sediminis is M11-4T (=MCCC 1K03312T=JCM 32104T).

A bacterium, designated strain MME-018T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the Muui-do in the Republic of Korea and identified within the family Rhodobacteraceae . The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed the highest similarity to that of Nioella sediminis JS7-11T (98.9 %), followed by Nioella nitratireducens SSW136T (97.1 %). In phylogenetic analyses, these taxa formed a clade at neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood, and maximum-parsimony algorithms, in which it was separated from other genus belonging to the family Rhodobacteraceae . Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was the major respiratory quinone. Major polar lipids included phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids, and an unidentified lipid. Major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) C16 : 0, cyclo C19 : 0 ω8c, and 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c. Genomic DNA G+C content was 61 mol%. Cells were Gram-stain negative, non-motile, aerobic, and rod-shaped. This strain grew in 1‒4 % (w/v) NaCl, at 4–40 °C and pH 6.0‒8.0, with optimal growth in 2 % (w/v) NaCl, at 25‒30 °C and pH 7.0. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MME-018T and Nioella sediminis KCTC 42144T and Nioella nitratireducens KCTC 32417T were 17±3 and 13±1 %, respectively. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain MME-018T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Nioella , for which the name Nioella aestuarii sp. nov. The type strain of Nioella aestuarii is MME-018T (=KCCM 43135T=JCM 30752T)

The genus Pectobacterium , which belongs to the bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae , contains numerous species that cause soft rot diseases in a wide range of plants. The species Pectobacterium carotovorum is highly heterogeneous, indicating a need for re-evaluation and a better classification of the species. PacBio was used for sequencing of two soft-rot-causing bacterial strains (NIBIO1006T and NIBIO1392), initially identified as P. carotovorum strains by fatty acid analysis and sequencing of three housekeeping genes (dnaX, icdA and mdh). Their taxonomic relationship to other Pectobacterium species was determined and the distance from any described species within the genus Pectobacterium was less than 94 % average nucleotide identity (ANI). Based on ANI, phylogenetic data and genome-to-genome distance, strains NIBIO1006T, NIBIO1392 and NCPPB3395 are suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Pectobacterium , for which the name Pectobacterium polaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NIBIO1006T (=DSM 105255T=NCPPB 4611T).

Strain 10R5-21T was isolated from lagoon sediments. Cells of strain 10R5-21T were Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and motile by means of polar flagella. The strain was obligately aerobic and positive for catalase and oxidase activity. Strain 10R5-21T was able to grow at 10–37 ˚C (optimum 25–30 ˚C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum pH 6.5–7.5) and in the presence of 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 were present as predominant (>5 %) fatty acids. Q-8 was identified as the major respiratory quinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were present as major polar lipids with minor amounts of unidentified aminophospholipids and unidentified aminolipids. The genomic G+C content of strain 10R5-21T was 64.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain 10R5-21T belongs to the genus Pseudoduganella within the family Oxalobacteraceae of the class Betaproteobacteria . Strain 10R5-21T shared 98.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Pseudoduganella violaceinigra YIM 31327T. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 10R5-21T and P. violaceinigra KACC 11669T were clearly below the 70 % threshold. Distinct morphological, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genetic differences from previously described taxa support the classification of strain 10R5-21T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Pseudoduganella , for which the name Pseudoduganella eburnea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 10R5-21T (=KEMB 563-061T=JCM 31587T).