- Volume 67, Issue 1, 2017

Strain AHQ-12T, isolated from a freshwater lake in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of strain AHQ-12T were Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore forming, straight rods and formed translucent white-coloured colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 20 °C, pH 6.0 and with 0 % NaCl. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8, and the DNA G+C content was 50.4 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids and lipids. The major polyamine was cadaverine. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that this isolate was unique, showing less than 91 % sequence similarity to its closest relatives, including members of the genera Ralstonia (89.7–90.8 %), Cupriavidus (88.8–90.3 %), Polynucleobacter (88.2–89.5 %), Burkholderia (86.6–90.3 %) and Pandoraea (89.2–90.1 %). Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that strain AHQ-12T formed a distinct clade closely related to species of the family Burkholderiaceae . On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain AHQ-12T should be classified as a novel species of a new genus in the family Burkholderiaceae , for which the name Formosimonas limnophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AHQ-12T (=BCRC 80690T=LMG 27847T=KCTC 32501T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated GHTF-24T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain GHTF-24T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Roseovarius . Strain GHTF-24T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.0 % to each of Roseovarius halotolerans HJ50T and Roseovarius pacificus 81-2T and of 91.6–96.5 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Roseovarius . Strain GHTF-24T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain GHTF-24T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain GHTF-24T was 62.3 mol%, and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of R. halotolerans and R. pacificus were 13–16 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain GHTF-24T is separated from other recognized species of the genus Roseovarius . On the basis of the data presented, strain GHTF-24T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius , for which the name Roseovarius aestuariivivens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GHTF-24T (=KCTC 52454T=NBRC 112420T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated RA2-7T, was isolated from a mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected from the South Sea, South Korea, and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain RA2-7T grew optimally at 20 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain RA2-7T belonged to the genus Colwellia . Strain RA2-7T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.3, 98.0 and 97.5 % to the type strains of Colwellia sediminilitoris , Colwellia aestuarii and Colwellia polaris , respectively, and of 94.5–96.5 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Colwellia . Strain RA2-7T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and 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 RA2-7T were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content of strain RA2-7T was 39.0±0.04 mol% and its DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of C . sediminilitoris , C. aestuarii and C. polaris were 14–19 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain RA2-7T is separated from recognized species of the genus Colwellia . On the basis of the data presented, strain RA2-7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Colwellia , for which the name Colwellia mytili sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RA2-7T (=KCTC 52417T=NBRC 112381T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains AVA-1T and AVA-2, were isolated from the root of Aloe vera (L.) Brum.f. derived from Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. The strains contained cytochrome oxidase and catalase activities. They grew in 4 % (w/v) NaCl, at a pH range of 6.0–9.0 (optimally at pH 7) and at 20–42 °C (optimally at 30–37 °C). The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone with eight isoprene units (Q-8). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 cyclo. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains represent a species belonging to the genus Achromobacter and are closely related to Achromobacter xylosoxidans NBRC 15126T (98.80 %), Achromobacter insolitus LMG 6003T (98.64 %), Achromobacter aminicus LMG 26690T (98.59 %), Achromobacter pulmonis LMG 26696T (98.58 %) and Achromobacter insuavis LMG 26845T (98.58 %). The DNA G+C content of strain AVA-1T was 66.5 mol%. The novel strains had low DNA–DNA relatedness values with related type strains. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic data obtained, the strains clearly represent a novel species, for which the name Achromobacter aloeverae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain AVA-1T (=LMG 29108T=NBRC 111463T=PCU 352T=TISTR 2383T).

An antibiotic-producing, obligate anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-negative strain (JC271T) was isolated from a marine habitat and identified, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, as a novel member of the family Desulfovibrionaceae . The closest phylogenetic relatives of strain JC271T were found to be Desulfovibrio marinisediminis C/L2T (99.2 %), Desulfovibrio acrylicus W218T (98.7 %), Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subsp. aestuarii (98.6 %), Desulfovibrio oceani subsp. oceani (98.0 %), Desulfovibrio oceani subsp. galatae (98.0 %) and other members of the genus Desulfovibrio (≤91.9 %). To resolve its full taxonomic position, the genomic sequence of strain JC271T was compared to available genomes of the most closely related phylogenetic members. Average Nucleotide Identity scores and DNA–DNA hybridization values confirmed that strain JC271T represents a novel genomic species. Iso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c, and iso-C15 : 0 were found to be the major (comprising >10 % of the total present) fatty acids of strain JC271T. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified lipids (L1-8) were the polar lipids identified. The G+C content of strain JC271T was 46.2 mol%. Integrated genomic and phenotypic data supported the classification of strain JC271T as a representative of a novel genus, for which the name Halodesulfovibrio spirochaetisodalis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC271T (=KCTC 15474T=DSM 100016T). It is also proposed that Desulfovibrio acrylicus W218T is the latter heterotypic synonym of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subsp. aestuarii Sylt 3T. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subsp. aestuarii Sylt 3T should also be elevated as Halodesulfovibrio aestuarii comb. nov. and Desulfovibrio marinisediminis reclassified as Halodesulfovibrio marinisediminis comb. nov. Desulfovibrio oceani subsp. oceani should be reclassified as Halodesulfovibrio oceani subsp. oceani comb. nov. and Desulfovibrio oceani subsp. galateae as Halodesulfovibrio oceani subsp. galateae comb. nov.

Gram-stain-negative strains V5/3MT, V5/5K, V5/5M and V5/13 were isolated from root nodules of Vicia alpestris plants growing in the North Ossetia region (Caucasus). Sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene (rrs) and four housekeeping genes (dnaK, gyrB, recA and rpoB) showed that the isolates from V. alpestris were most closely related to the species Microvirga zambiensis (order Rhizobiales , family Methylobacteriaceae ) which was described for the single isolate from root nodule of Listia angolensis growing in Zambia. Sequence similarities between the Microvirga -related isolates and M. zambiensis WSM3693T ranged from 98.5 to 98.7 % for rrs and from 79.7 to 95.8 % for housekeeping genes. Cellular fatty acids of the isolates V5/3MT, V5/5K, V5/5M and V5/13 included important amounts of C18 : 1ω7c (54.0–67.2 %), C16 : 0 (6.0–7.8 %), C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (3.1–10.2 %), summed feature 2 (comprising one or more of iso-C16 : 1 I, C14 : 0 3-OH and unknown ECL 10.938, 5.8–22.5 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 02-OH, 2.9–4.0 %). DNA–DNA hybridization between the isolate V5/3MT and M. zambiensis WSM3693T revealed DNA–DNA relatedness of 35.3 %. Analysis of morphological and physiological features of the novel isolates demonstrated their unique phenotypic profile in comparison with reference strains from closely related species of the genus Microvirga . On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic analysis, a novel species named Microvirga ossetica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is V5/3MT (=LMG 29787T=RCAM 02728T). Three additional strains of the species are V5/5K, V5/5M and V5/13.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic and short rod-shaped bacterial strain, CAU 1311T, was isolated from sea sand in the Republic of Korea. Strain CAU 1311T grew at temperatures from 20–37 °C, in the range of pH 6.5–10.0, and under various NaCl concentrations from 0–6 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of CAU 1311T showed that it formed a distinct lineage within the family Rhodobacteraceae as a separate deep branch, with 96.2 % or lower sequence identity to representatives of the genera Marivita , Aestuariivita , Mameliella , Sulfitobacter and Maritimibacter . The major fatty acid was C18  : 1 ω7c and the predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 60.7 mol%. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxanomic findings, strain CAU 1311T could be classified as representing a novel species of a new genus of the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Marimonas arenosa gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is CAU 1311T (=KCTC 52189T=NBRC 111988T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, pink-pigmented bacterium designated strain R491T was isolated from soil. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain R491T formed a lineage within the family Methylobacteriaceae of the phylum Proteobacteria that was distinct from various species of the genus Microvirga , including Microvirgaaerilata 5420S-16T (97.83 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Microvirga zambiensis WSM3693T (97.76 %), Microvirga flocculans ATCC BAA-817T (97.41 %), and Microvirga lupini Lut6T, Microvirga subterranea DSM 14364T, Microvirga vignae BR3299T, and Microvirga guangxiensis 25BT (96.99 %). The major polar lipids of strain R491T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 71.2 %), C16 : 0 (12.0 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 4.7 %), and C18 : 0 (4.2 %). The DNA G+C content of strain R491T was 61.8 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain R491T and other members of the genus Microvirga ranged from 27 to 57 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain R491T represents a novel species of the genus Microvirga , for which the name Microvirga soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R491T (=KEMB 9005-408T=KACC 18969T=NBRC 112417T).

Strains 97/79T and A121, recovered respectively from human faeces and well water, were compared to currently known species of the genus Citrobacter using genotypic and phenotypic approaches. Multilocus sequence analysis based on housekeeping genes fusA, leuS, pyrG, rpoB and recN, showed that the two strains formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the genus Citrobacter . Average nucleotide identity (ANI) between strains 97/79T and A121 was 99.2 %, whereas ANI values of strain 97/79T with the type strains of closely related species of the genus Citrobacter , C. werkmanii , C. braakii , C. freundii , C. youngae and C. pasteurii , were all below 93.0 %. The ability to metabolize different compounds also discriminated strains 97/79T and A121 from other species of the genus Citrobacter . Based on these results, strains 97/79T and A121 represent a novel species of the genus Citrobacter , for which the name Citrobacter europaeus sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 97/79T (=CIP 106467T=DSM 103031T) as the type strain. The DNA G+C content of strain 97/79T is 52.0 %.